AirHogs Set to Open Championship Series
The Grand Prairie AirHogs will go for their first championship in franchise history this week, taking on the St. Paul Saints in the 2011 American Association Championship Series. After dispatching the Wichita Wingnuts three games to one in the first round, the AirHogs will face St. Paul, who beat Winnipeg three games to two in their Division Series.
The two teams met once during the season, with St. Paul sweeping Grand Prairie at QuikTrip Park in June, winning 6-3 in 11 innings, before taking the next two games 5-4 and 7-0. The AirHogs are in their second Championship Series in franchise history, losing to Sioux Falls in 2008, while St. Paul is in their third American Association Championship Series, losing to Fort Worth in 2006 and 2007, having last won a championship in the Northern League in 2004.
Righty Jason Jennings, who went eight innings of one-run ball in Game 1 against Wichita, will start Game 1 of this series at Midway Stadium on Wednesday night, against St. Paul righty Todd Mathison. Righty Tim Brown goes for the AirHogs on Thursday in Game 2 against righty Alberto Rolon, who shut the AirHogs down with six shutout innings in June.
The series shifts to QuikTrip Park on Saturday, September 10, with Game 3, before Games 4 and 5 on Sunday and Monday, if necessary. Game 4 would be at 2:05 p.m. while Game 5 would be at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, September 12.
The AirHogs plan to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a pre-game ceremony before Game 3, with free tickets available for all area police officers, fire fighters, military personnel and EMS first responders for all three games at QuikTrip Park.
Thanks to playoff sponsors, Texas Trust, the City of Grand Prairie, Grand Bank of Texas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dos Equis, Tecate, Swiss-American, Fast Armadillo, Hyatt Place North Arlington-Grand Prairie, American Ice, Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation, All-Pro Collision and Balance Massage, all tickets for the Championship Series are $7, with vouchers available for $5 tickets throughout the area.
2011 American Association Championship Series schedule:
GAME 1: Grand Prairie (Jennings: 10-2, 3.59) at St. Paul (Mathison: 1-0, 7.50) Wednesday, September 7, 7:05 p.m.
GAME 2: Grand Prairie (Brown: 9-6, 2.92) at St. Paul (Rolon: 10-4, 4.41), Thursday, September 8, 7:05 p.m.
GAME 3: St. Paul (TBA) at Grand Prairie (Rainwater: 14-6, 4.41), Saturday, September 10, 7:05 p.m.
GAME 4: St. Paul (TBA) at Grand Prairie (Brownell: 11-5, 3.56), Sunday, September 11, 2:05 p.m.*
GAME 5: St. Paul (TBA) at Grand Prairie (Jennings), Monday, September 12, 7:05 p.m.*
*If necessary
