Starling Quality Start Leads El Paso Past Captains 3-1

Published on June 2, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La.---For just the second time this season the Shreveport-Bossier Captains managed just one run as the El Paso Diablos got a quality start from Wardell Starling to snap the Captains three-game win streak with a 3-1 victory.

Starling (3-1) allowed one run and six hits over seven innings, striking out three and walking one. After he left the game, the Captains didn't have a baserunner against relievers Jon Plefka and Ray Silva. The Captains only run of the night came on a Bryan Sabatella RBI single in the third. Shreveport-Bossier came close in the seventh, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Starling got Mike Provencher to strike out and Joey Gathright to ground to second to end the frame.

El Paso scored one run a piece in the third, fourth and fifth innings and that was enough behind a strong performance by their three hurlers. Antoin Gray scored the game's first run on an RBI single by Kyle Nichols. Nichols, who went three-for-five with two RBIs, picked up his fourteenth and fifteenth RBIs of the year against the Captains.

In the fourth, El Paso made it 2-1 when Martin Parra scored on a Kory Drew double. In the top of the fifth, El Paso would lead off the inning with five straight hits against Captains starter Aaron Cunningham (1-3) but managed only one run. Gray, who led off the inning with a base hit, was thrown out at home when Chad Gabriel hit a deep fly to center field for a double. Joey Gathright fielded it off the center field wall and threw it to cut off man Bryan Fricther who relayed it to Brian Peterson. Peterson received the throw in foul territory and applied the tag just before Gray slid to the outside part of home plate.

El Paso's only run of the frame would come on a Nichols single. With the bases loaded and one out, Cunningham would strike out Martin Parra and then get Butch Ballez to pop out to second.

Captains relievers Mark Haynes and Jake McCarter threw 3.1 scoreless innings but the Captains failed to plate another run and lost for the first time in the home stand at Fair Grounds Field.

The Captains and Diablos play game five of six at Fair Grounds Field Friday, June 3 on Willis-Knighton presents Jason Bland Memorial Tribute & Cancer Awareness Night and Buffalo Wild Wings Kids Run the Bases. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6:05. For ticket information, call the Captains office at 318-636-5555 or visit www.sbcaptains.com.

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American Association Stories from June 2, 2011


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