Throwback Captains take another series from Cats

Published on July 25, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - Honoring three championship clubs in Fair Grounds Field history as well as a legacy of playoff squads, the current Shreveport-Bossier Captains did a little more than just dress like the old Shreveport Captains Saturday night. The Captains took advantage of some Fort Worth Cats mistakes, Jose Torres hit his second home run in as many days and Luke Massetti pitched into the eighth inning to earn his sixth win of the season, as the Captains played like a playoff team in beating the Cats 5-2 in front of 3,191 to take three of four in the series.

Shreveport-Bossier (34-30, 12-4 2nd half), wearing the throwback uniforms from the Shreveport Captains' double-A days, got off to an early lead in the second inning against Fort Worth's rookie starter Matt Gibbs (1-2). Andres Rodriguez reached to start the inning on a blistering single off the glove of a diving Michael Bell at third. Selwyn Langaigne then grounded a ball to first, and Patrick O'Sullivan threw to second to try to start a double play. But his throw hit Rodriguez and caromed into the outfield, allowing both runners to move up another base. With the infield back early in the game Dwayne White knocked in Rodriguez with an RBI grounder and moved Langaigne to third before Jonathan Reynoso hit a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0 Captains.

Massetti (6-1) retired the first five men he faced before a harmless two-out double in the second, but Ron Fenwick reached on an error to start the second and then the righty hit Matt Combs. Brian Fryer then grounded one in the hole that Joe Urtuzuastegui dove for and kept on the infield, but ended up being an infield hit. Massetti buckled down, only allowing a sacrifice fly to Cameron Blair before a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning.

The Captains then extended their lead in the bottom of the inning, as Bryan Sabatella walked to start the inning, moved to second on an errant pickoff throw, and then after Richard Paz walked, alertly took third on a ball in the dirt. Torres grounded into a double play to erase the baserunners but score Sabatella, and then Rodriguez singled to start a new rally. He moved to second on a passed ball by Combs, and scored on Langaigne's RBI single to give the Captains a 4-1 lead.

Both teams' bats when quiet until the eighth, as Massetti allowed lone baserunners in each of the next three innings before a 1-2-3 seventh and Gibbs (who went 6 1/3) and Tyler Pearson got a total of three more double plays and did not allow a hit from the third on.

But in the top of the eighth Fort Worth (38-26, 8-8) mounted their last good threat of the night. Blair led off with a single and Bell followed with a double to put runners at second and third with no outs. Massetti then left for Jakob Cunningham, who struck out John Allen before a cautious walk of O'Sullivan loaded the bases. Ryan Patterson then hit a sac fly to make it 4-2 before Cunningham got Isa Garcia to fly out to end the inning.

The two-run advantage did not last long though, as Torres crushed the first pitch from Pearson to leftfield for his third home run of the year, all coming in the last week. It was only the fourth hit of the night for Shreveport-Bossier, but they were enough for the win.

Justin Dowdy came on and retired the side in the ninth for his 13th save of the season, striking out the final two hitters - including Fryer after an 11-pitch battle.

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American Association Stories from July 25, 2009


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