Thunder Win Going Away Wire-to-Wire Victory for McAllen

July 20, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Abilene Prairie Dogs News Release


ABILENE, TX - McAllen finished Thursday night's game the same way they started it, by pasting a crooked number on the scoreboard. The Thunder scored four runs in the first inning and five in the ninth on the way to a 12-6 victory in Abilene.

Woods Fines started for the Dogs and allowed six runs over the first two innings. Thunder left fielder Miguel Alfonzo highlighted the top of the first inning with his third home run of the season, a two run shot that put McAllen in front 3-0.

In the second inning, Yasser Gomez blasted a run-scoring double to left field and Alfonzo drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to push the McAllen advantage to 6-0.

White the Dogs did not go quietly through the first few innings, McAllen starter Frank James used three double plays over the first three frames to limit Abilene's ability to slice into the deficit.

Trailing 6-1, Chris Caves began the bottom of the fourth inning with his fifth round tripper of the season, and Adam De La Garza doubled home Danny Gonzalez to cut the lead to 6-3.

It stayed that way until Caves led off again in the fifth. This time, the designated hitter ripped a single through the middle. The next batter was Zach Welch who bounced a grounder to third baseman Nathan Tomaszewski who committed a throwing error while trying to eliminate the lead runner going to second base, it was a two base error that left runners on second and third with no outs. Danny Gonzalez and Jason Martin then bounced consecutive R.B.I groundouts to second baseman Nelson Teilon to trim the Thunder lead to one, 6-5.

But on the first pitch of the seventh inning, Miguel Alfonzo unloaded on a Jeremy Tietze fastball and cranked his second homer of the ballgame, widening the lead to 7-5. Alfonzo entered Thursday's game with two long balls in 2012 and matched that total over the first seven innings at Walt Driggers' Field.

After throwing a perfect eighth inning, Kevin Gelinas retired the only batter he faced in the ninth before giving way to Gunner Glad. After Gald allowed a double to Teilon, Abilene chose to intentionally walk both Alfonzo and designated hitter Gianison Rossa to load the bases with one out. Nick Mahin quickly punished the Dogs with a two-run single to left centerfield to create a 9-5 Thunder lead. Roberto Rodriguez would soon knock in two more with a single as part of a five-run top of the ninth inning.

The Dogs scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on Eddie Browne's run-scoring single but left a pair of runners on base when Chris Caves struck out to end the game.

The Dogs and Thunder will clash in game four of the six-game series on Friday night at 7:05. Hear the game on 106.9 KLGD or on the internet at abileneprairiedogs.com beginning with the First Financial Pregame Show at 6:55.

Also, Friday at Walt Driggers' Field is First Financial/KXVA Replica Jersey Giveaway and kids run the bases night at the ballpark where the first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a replica Prairie Dogs Jersey.

On Saturday night, the first 1,000 Prairie Dogs fans through the gates will receive a glow-in-the-dark baseball as part of AEP Texas/KTXS Glow in the Dark Logo Ball Giveaway Night, kids can run the bases on Saturday night as well.



North American League Stories from July 20, 2012


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