Saturday, July 19, 1997

Win hands Dillas first losing home series of season

AMARILLO - The Abilene Prairie Dogs handed the Amarillo Dillas their first losing home series of the season with an 11-6 victory Friday night at Potter County Memorial Stadium.

The win came despite a pair of home runs from former Prairie Dog first baseman Rod Brewer, who drove in three runs. Brewer also pitched two-thirds of an inning after the game got out of hand, and did not allow a run.

The Prairie Dogs, now 4-5 in the second half of Texas-Louisiana League baseball play, will continue their road trip today with a doubleheader at Alexandria. The first game is set for 6:05 p.m.

The Dillas slipped to 3-6 in the second half of play.

Abilene starter Mark Hampton (5-3) got the victory, working six innings and giving up five runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out six.

George Preston Jr., who pitched three innings and gave up one run on three hits, picked up his team-leading ninth save of the season.

It was the first loss of the season for Dillas starter Ryan Thomas (5-1), who went six innings but allowed 10 runs - all earned - on 11 hits. He issued two walks and had no strikeouts.

For the Prairie Dogs offensively, Shawn Hughes was 3 for 5 with three RBI, Jay Andrews was 2 for 3 and Darryl Monroe and Barry Takahashi also had two hits apiece.

Abilene posted a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning on five hits, including an RBI double from Jason McClure and RBI singles by Andrews and Hughes.

Brewer's two-run homer in the bottom of the first made it a 4-2 Abilene lead, and he added a solo homer in the third to pull the Dillas within one, at 4-3.

But Abilene responded with six runs in the fifth, including an RBI single by Andrews and a two-run homer by Hughes, his third of the season.

Both Tim Howard and manager Glen Wilson of the Dillas (3-6) were ejected for arguing with the home plate umpire earlier in the game.

Abilene's probable starters in today's doubleheader are Royal Thomas (2-3) in the first game and John Baack (3-3) in the nightcap.