Airhogs snap losing streak with 10-3 win over Pelicans
Grand Prairie snapped its four-game losing streak in a big way as the AirHogs routed the Pensacola Pelicans, 10-3, at QuikTrip Park. The AirHogs (16-12) also remained in first place in the South Division ahead of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains.
AirHogs starter Matt Green played a big role in helping snap the losing skid by pitching seven strong innings. The right-hander raised his record to 3-0 by scattering five hits and allowed only one unearned run. He also struck out three and walked two.
Offensively, the AirHogs roughed up three Pelican pitchers for 17 hits as everyone in the AirHogs’ lineup had at least one hit. David Espinosa (3-for-4), Ben Petralli (3-for-4, 2 RBI) and Chad Gabriel (3-for-5, RBI) led the attack and Joe Spiers and Robert Perry each added two hits.
Grand Prairie got rolling in the first inning after the Pelicans scored an unearned run in the top half of the inning. Hot hitting Greg Porter hit a two-out, two-run double scoring Spiers and Espinosa. Spiers reached on a walk, and Espinosa singled.
Spiers then made it 3-1 in the bottom of the second with a RBI triple to left center that scored Gabriel. Gabriel had doubled and gone to third on Thomas Incaviglia’s ground ball to second.
The Pelicans pulled the score to 3-2 in the top of the fifth but the AirHogs came right back with a pair of runs to regain control. Perry doubled and one out later, Porter was intentionally walked putting runners at the corners.
Juan Camacho hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Perry and Petralli followed with a RBI single scoring Porter.
Then in the seventh the AirHogs broke the game wide open as Gabriel, Incaviglia and Spiers had RBI hits and Perry a RBI fielder’s choice. Petralli’s RBI hit in the eighth gave the AirHogs a 10-2 lead.
Grand Prairie opens a four-game series with the Lincoln Saltdogs Monday at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. for “Mustache Monday Night.”
