Friday, July 27, 2012

Three errors, six runs in second helps T-Bones cruise

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – During the Grand Prairie AirHogs’ struggles in the second half of July, they have frequently made costly errors in the field and allowed big innings against them. Both were on display on Friday, as the Kansas City T-Bones took advantage of three AirHogs errors to score six runs (two earned) in the second inning to cruise to a 9-4 victory at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

After getting around a one-out single in the first, Josh Strawn (6-3) gave up a double and two singles to start the bottom of the second, falling behind 1-0. A fielder’s choice out brought in another run, before Devin Goodwin reached on an error by Greg Porter at third. Justin Bass singled to bring in Milner, and Trent Lockwood’s throw to third hit Goodwin and bounced away to allow him to score. After a groundout, shortstop Yasutsgu Nishimoto made a rare miscue to allow Bass to score, and Ray Sadler’s RBI single capped the inning.

Strawn gave up one more unearned run in the fourth, before being chased on the strength of three straight hits in the seventh, leading to two more runs.

Meanwhile, Lucas Irvine (2-0) held the AirHogs (40-26) at bay for the second start in a row, allowing two runs on Chris McMurray’s fourth-inning double, while scattering seven hits and two walks, striking out six. Only in that fourth inning did the AirHogs have more than one baserunner in an inning, although Irvine had no perfect frames.

Steve Kent allowed an unearned run in the eighth, and David Thomas’s double in the ninth brought the AirHogs their final run, but it was too little and too late again.

Notes: Andres Rodriguez had three hits to lead the Airhogs…Scott Clement pinch-hit in the ninth and singled in his 2012 AirHogs debut…Grand Prairie left nine men on base…Four T-Bones had two hits but none had more…The AirHogs have lost five straight series openers…Only five of the 21 hits in the game were for extra bases, three doubles by the AirHogs and two for Kansas City (36-31).

The 2011 American Association Champion Grand Prairie AirHogs continue their three-game series against the Kansas City T-Bones at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, July 28. The next home game at QuikTrip Park is Friday, August 3, at 7:05 p.m. against the Laredo Lemurs. That night will feature a team card set giveaway, sponsored by Parkland Community Health Plan. All games are aired live and for free on Ustream by clicking on the link on the AirHogs’ home page or visiting http://www.ustream.tv/channel/airhogs-baseball with selected contests aired on Time Warner Cable’s Texas Channel. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the AirHogs, check out the Web site at www.airhogsbaseball.com, or call the QuikTrip Park office at (972) 504-9383.