Two-out rallies get Cats by Captains

Published on August 22, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


FORT WORTH, Texas - With the Pensacola Pelicans losing earlier Saturday night, the Shreveport-Bossier Captains had a chance to cut their second-half deficit two to games with eight contests remaining. Things looked good early for Shreveport-Bossier, with a two-run advantage through the first three frames. But Fort Worth scored a run on a two-out wild pitch in the fourth, took the lead on a two-out, two-run homer by Ryan Patterson in the sixth, and tacked on two-out insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to grab a 5-2 win at LaGrave Field and keep the Captains three back of the Pelicans.

Bryan Sabatella started things for the Captains (43-45, 21-19 2nd half) with a leadoff single in the first, and Dwayne White followed with a walk. After a flyout and a groundout moved the runners to second and third, Jorge Alvarez drove a pitch to the wall in left-center for a two-run double and a 2-0 lead.

But that was all the offense Shreveport-Bossier would get against the Cats' pitching staff on the night, only even getting two runners on in one more inning - the ninth. Starter Jae Jung (7-3) pitched around one hit in the second, third, and sixth innings to get the win, his third straight against the Captains. Jung went six, allowed five hits and the two first-inning tallies, walked two and struck out two.

Richard Salazar (4-1), who was excellent in his first Captains start last Monday, got double plays in the first two innings and got around a one-out, two-on jam in the third to hold that 2-0 advantage. But Michael Bell singled with one out in the fourth, moved to third on a dribbler in front of the plate that catcher Tommy Bryant threw past a vacant second base, and scored when Salazar bounced one to Isa Garcia that got away from Bryant.

The lefty pitched a 1-2-3 fifth and got two outs in the sixth on a double play, but Bell singled to re-start the Cats offense and Patterson hit the first pitch he saw over the leftfield wall for his 11th homer of the year and a 3-2 Fort Worth lead.

Jose Torres singled off Gary Lee to start the seventh, but after a sacrifice bunt by Luis Guance, Bryant fouled out down the rightfield line and Angelo Fermin grounded out to end the inning.

Salazar got two outs in the seventh as well, but a two-out single by Cameron Blair brought home Kevin Thompson from third, gave Fort Worth (50-38, 21-19) a 4-2 lead and ended Salazar's night. The lefty was charged with four runs (three earned) on eight hits with a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Ryan Trytten pitched a 1-2-3 eighth before Matt Petty allowed a two-out single and a pair of walks to load the bases in the bottom half of the frame. Another bouncer got away from Bryant, who threw to Petty, but his tag was too late to get Patterson scoring the final run of the game.

Closer Scott Vander Weg gave up a leadoff single to Andres Rodriguez in the ninth and then walked Alvarez, bringing the tying run to the plate. But he got Torres to fly to the track in right, before striking out Guance on the 11th pitch of his at-bat and inducing a grounder by pinch-hitter Kevin Griffin that Isa Garcia dove for at second, before throwing out Griffin to end the game and give Vander Weg his fifth save of the year.

Notes: The Captains have only scored in five total innings in the last four games...Bell and Patterson were a combined 5-for-8 with four runs scored...Christopher Garcia was 2-for-4, the only Captain with multiple hits on the night...The Captains lead the season series with the Cats 10-9 with one final game to come Sunday...Vander Weg has only allowed three baserunners (including the two in this game) and no runs in six games (seven total innings) against the Captains, with two hits, one walk and seven strikeouts, getting three of his five saves on the year.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains conclude their three-game series with the Fort Worth Cats on Sunday, August 23 at 6:05 p.m. The Captains are back home for their final regular-season series on Monday, August 24, with three games against the El Paso Diablos. Monday is Jose Cuervo Presents Margarita Monday, with half-priced margaritas throughout the game. It is also Ladies' night, with free admission to the park for women over 21. Game time is 7:05 p.m. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all home games and select road games. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.

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American Association Stories from August 22, 2009


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