Pensacola second baseman Antoin Gray three hits and two runs batted in as the Pelicans defeated the Cats 7-4 in front of 6,324 fans Friday night at LaGrave Field. It is the first time this season the Cats have lost three straight games.
Fort Worth took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Pat O'Sullivan singled to center, extending his hitting streak to a franchise record 29 games. The next batter, Michael Bell doubled to right, scoring O'Sullivan from first.
The Pelicans responded quickly, however as they tied the game in the third on an RBI single by Francisco Leandro.
The Cats would make it 3-1 in the fifth as Chuck Carter scored on an errant pickoff throw by Pelican's starter Dane Devalk and Ryan Patterson drove home a run with sacrifice fly. Pensacola answered again in the top of the sixth as Leandro led off the inning with a double and then scored on an error. Marcos' Rodriguez RBI single tied the game 3-3 later in the inning.
Fort Worth took a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning as Carter led off with an infield single, moved to second on a wild pitch, to third on a bunt and scored on a Cameron Blair sacrifice fly. But Pensacola scored a run in the eighth on Gray's third hit of the ninth, an RBI double to right to make it a 4-4 game in the ninth.
The Pelicans finally took their first lead of the game in the ninth as Lester Contreras reached on an error and came into score on a Luis Guance RBI single. They would add to more insurance runs on a Gray RBI fielder's choice and a Chase Burch RBI single.
The Cats would bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Patterson popped to first to end the game against Pensacola closer Hunter Davis, who notched his 10th save of the season.
Tyler Wilson, who allowed a run on two hits in two innings pitched out of the Pelicans' bullpen, earned the win to improve to 1-0. Dustin Cameron permitted three runs, two earned in the ninth suffered his second loss of the season.
Cats' starter Jae Jung received no decision in the game, he went seven innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits.
Brian Fryer was 3-for-4 in the game to extend his hitting streak to 24 games.
The Cats and Pelicans meet again on Saturday for an Independence Day showdown at LaGrave Field. Game time is 7:05 p.m. with Ryan Tryetten on the mound for Fort Worth.
