Friday, August 03, 2012

Two errors aid four-run eighth inning

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Despite Andres Rodriguez’s three-run home run and Brian Myrow’s two-run blast, the Grand Prairie AirHogs’ defense and bullpen could not hold a late lead, as the Laredo Lemurs scored four times in the eighth inning to beat the AirHogs 6-5 at QuikTrip Park on Friday in the opener of their four-game series.

Laredo (33-38) scored a run in the second after a walk, single, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly, but got nothing else in six innings against AirHogs debutant Jake Cowan, who retired the last nine men he faced. Cowan allowed three hits and two walks but took a no-decision.

Matt Way, who had allowed one earned run in 20 innings against the AirHogs (41-31) in three previous starts this season, allowed one walk and two singles through five in this one, before being pulled after giving up two singles in the sixth. Despite Rodriguez’s 0-for-10 off Way this season, the lefty was pulled in favor of Bradley Blanks (3-1), who got ahead of Rodriguez 0-2 before the AirHogs’ cleanup hitter got back even at 2-2.

Rodriguez then pulled a pitch over the leftfield wall for his 12^th home run of the season to give Grand Prairie the lead, but Laredo battled back almost immediately.

The Lemurs got a run on two singles and a sacrifice bunt in the seventh, before a one-out error by Bryan Frichter at short opened the door in the eighth.

Palmer Karr reached on an infield single and John Allen singled to right to tie the game, before Adam Miller (0-1) intentionally walked Javier Brito. Uriak Marquez then hit a pop-fly double to left-center to bring in two runs and give the Lemurs the lead back, before another error plated a fourth run in the inning.

Myrow’s two-out, two-run homer to right cut the deficit to 6-5 in the eighth, but Rodriguez grounded back to pitcher Edwin Walker to end that frame, and Mike Benacka worked around a two-out hit batter with another comebacker to pick up his fifth save and end the game.

Notes: Myrow was the only AirHogs player with two hits…The AirHogs have not been back to 10 games over .500 since June 23…Two of the runs off Miller (who gave up his first runs as an AirHogs) were unearned…Ronnie Morales gave up a run for the first time since July 18 in St. Paul…This is Grand Prairie’s second loss of the season when leading after seven innings…The AirHogs signed outfielder Jonny Kaplan before the game. Jorge Alvarez returned to his hitting coach duties and left the active roster, and outfielder David Thomas announced his retirement.

The 2011 American Association Champion Grand Prairie AirHogs continue their four-game series against the Laredo Lemurs at QuikTrip Park on Saturday, August 4, at 7:05 p.m. It is another Fireworks Saturday Night, with a spectacular postgame pyrotechnics display. 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.