Friday, August 10, 2012

Up 5-0, AirHogs let lead slip away

LAREDO, Texas – All nine Grand Prairie AirHogs had at least one hit and Laredo Lemurs starting pitcher Tony Butler only recorded one out – usually a recipe for success. But the Lemurs bullpen allowed only three runs in 8 2/3 innings and they came back with two big innings – including scoring four off Adam Miller for the second time in a week, as Laredo came back to beat the AirHogs 8-6 on Friday in the series opener at Uni-Trade Stadium.

Grand Prairie (44-35) got three in the first off Butler and Leonard Giammanco on only one hit, and Lemurs manager Pete Incaviglia was ejected after continuing an argument on a close play at first that went against his leadoff hitter, Stephen Douglas, in the bottom of the first.

The AirHogs added single runs in the second and third, and John Brownell worked around two hits in each of those two innings with the help of two double plays, and things looked rosy for Brownell’s first win in more than a month.

But Laredo (35-43) got a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth and John Allen hit a three-run home run in the fifth to pull the Lemurs to within one.

Jairo Perez’s double put the AirHogs back up by two in the sixth, but Miller could not get out of the seventh.

A single and a walk began the frame, before the righty struck out Allen and Javier Brito. But with an 0-2 count, Uriak Marquez lined a single to left for a run, and after Brian Peterson walked on a close 3-2 pitch, Stephen Pearson lined a two-run single to right to put the Lemurs on top for the first time. Anthony Scelfo’s cue shot up the third-base line off Ronnie Morales brought in another run, and the AirHogs could not do anything against Chaz Roe and Mike Benacka, with the latter picking up his seventh save of the season.

Notes: Seven Lemurs had at least one hit, led by Allen’s four…14 of the 15 Laredo hits (all but Allen’s home run) were singles…The five run lead is the largest lost by the AirHogs this season…Each team had only one 1-2-3 inning…The AirHogs struck out nine times against the four Laredo relievers: Leonard Giammanco, Edwin Walker (3-1), Roe and Benacka…Alberto Espinosa DH’ed in his AirHogs debut and went 1-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch. He was acquired on Friday along with former AirHog John Alonso (currently on the disabled list) for catcher Chris McMurray from the Lincoln Saltdogs.

The 2011 American Association Champion Grand Prairie AirHogs continue their three-game set against the Laredo Lemurs on Saturday, August 11, at 7:30 p.m. The next home game at QuikTrip Park is Friday, August 17, against the El Paso Diablos, at 7:05 p.m. That night is Tecate Jerseys off our Backs Night, as well as a free QuikTrip Night with vouches available at local QuikTrip stores. That night is also Pirate Night, with a performance by the Bilge Pumps. 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.