Friday, August 15, 1997

Dogs squeeze out victory over Crickets

By MARK WILSON/ Abilene Reporter-News

Instead of early and often, the Abilene Prairie Dogs hit early and late Thursday night.

The result was a 10-8 Texas-Louisiana League baseball victory over the Lubbock Crickets, witnessed by 905 fans at Scott Field.

The Prairie Dogs scored three runs in the seventh to erase a 4-2 deficit, then shattered a 5-5 tie by coming up with five runs on six hits in the eighth.

Abilene manager Barry Jones, who saw his team outhit Lubbock 13-12, just seemed pleased to see hitting any time - regardless of when.

"I'm happy to see hitting - period," said Jones, whose team was held to one hit Wednesday night in an 8-0 loss in Tyler. "We got hitting when we needed to get it. If you're going to win, you want to keep it close early - and that's what we did."

Abilene improved to 12-22 in the second half of league play. Lubbock is now 14-20.

The Prairie Dogs' three-run rally in the eighth included a run-scoring triple to the left-field corner legged out by Jason Keith, and a clutch two-run single to right by Dave Sandoval.

The five-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth was keyed by a two-run single from Jeff Motes, and a pair of two-run doubles - by Shawn Hughes and Scott Bethea.

Lubbock made it interesting with three runs in the top of the ninth. The Crickets got a two-run double after one run scored on a passed ball.

Mark Hampton (7-5) got the victory for Abilene, in relief of starter George Preston, who went six frames. They gave up six hits each.

Elicio De Leon (1-2), the second of three Lubbock pitchers, took the loss.

The Prairie Dogs picked up their first two runs in the first inning after Scott Bethea led off with a walk and Dave Sandoval's bunt went for an infield single.

Darryl Monroe's sacrifice fly to center scored Bethea. One out later, Beltran started a streak of three straight bases on balls. The third walk, to Jeff Motes, forced in Sandoval.

Lubbock cut it to 2-1 in the second inning on an RBI double by Lamont Mason, bringing in Brad Gennero, who had led off the inning with a single.

The Crickets then gained their 4-2 lead with three runs on just two hits in the third. With the bases loaded, Donald Harris singled to right field, sending home Johnny Monell and Mike Hardge to give the Crickets the lead.

Harris went to second on the throw home, and took third when Gennaro was thrown out at home on Drue Sullivan's fielder's choice grounder to first baseman Jeff Motes. When Hardge broke for second, Harris scored on the double steal in front of the throw home from second baseman Scott Bethea.

After Abilene went ahead 5-4, the Crickets tied it 5-5 in the top of the eighth as Hardge and Gennaro racked up back-to-back doubles.