Pensacola’s Antoin Gray hit a three-run home run and had four RBI to lead the Pelicans to a 7-6 victory over the AirHogs Friday night in front of 4,243 fans at QuikTrip Park.
The loss dropped Grand Prairie’s record to 2-6 on the young season. Gray’s three-run blast off Grand Prairie starter Justin Garcia capped a five-run second inning for the Pelicans, who scored seven runs in the first three innings. The seven runs – all earned – were charged against Garcia, who lasted just 2 1/3 innings.
Pensacola (4-4) built a 7-3 lead after three innings but the AirHogs battled back with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Noel Trevino’s RBI single scored Derek Nicholson from second base Nicholson singled and Brandon Carter walked.
Grand Prairie took advantage of two Pelican errors in the sixth to pull within 7-5 and Cesar Nicolas, who was 2-for-3 and two runs scored, singled home David Espinosa in the seventh to make it 7-6.
The AirHogs, who collected 14 hits, had taken a 2-1 lead in the first on back-to-back RBI singles by J.B. Tucker and Derek Nicholson. But Pensacola’s five-run second proved to be the difference.
Jimmy Mojica and Francisco Leandro had RBI singles prior to Gray’s three-run shot to left. Marcos Rodriguez’ RBI single scored Chase Burch in the third to give the Pelicans a 7-2 lead.
Carter and Trevino hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the second to make it 7-3.
The two teams will play the second game of their three-game series Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at QuikTrip Park.
