Pelicans Edge Cats 3-2 in Series Finale

By EMIL MOFFATT

Updated 11:15 PM CST, Sun, Jul 5, 2009

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Fort Worth Cats/Bob Haynes

The Pelicans took the lead in the third inning as they scored an unearned run against Cats' starter Joel Kirsten. Dallas Christison reached on a one-out error, went to second on a Francisco Leandro singled and then came home on a run-scoring single by Antoin Gray.

Pensacola went up 2-0 in the fifth as they had back-to-back singles to start off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Gray delivered an RBI single, his second of the game.

The Pelicans scored again in the sixth inning on a Lou Palmissano RBI single.

The Cats were limited to just one hit through the first five innings by Pelicans' starter Randy Beam. They finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning on a two-out run-scoring single by Kelley Gulledge.

Fort Worth climbed to within a run in the seventh inning against reliever Ron Hill. Chuck Carter reached on a walk to start the inning and then scored all the way from first on a double to right by Brian Fryer. The double extended Fryer's hitting streak to 26 games.

The next batter, Cameron Blair advanced the runner with a bunt, but the following hitters in the inning could not get the tying run home and the score remained 3-2.

Hill and closer Hunter Davis proceeded to retire six straight Cats' hitters in the eighth and ninth to preserve the victory. It was Davis' second save of the series and 11th overall this year. Beam (4-5) allowed a run on two hits in six innings of work to earn the win.
Joel Kirsten, allowed three runs, but only one of them earned on 11 hits in eight innings pitched to take the loss as his record fell to 5-3.

With the loss the Cats' losing streak reached five in a row, their first five-game skid since the 2003 season when they dropped seven straight. Their first half record finishes at 30-18, first in the American Association South by six games over Pensacola.

The season's second half begins on Tuesday in Sioux Falls with the opener of a three-game series with the Canaries. Game time Tuesday is 7:05 p.m. with Matt Gibbs on the hill for the Cats.