A ten run fifth and dominant pitching performance by Jose Cordero started second half of the 2009 season off right for the AirHogs as they pounded out twenty-one hits beating the Captains 18-0.
Making just his fourth start of the season Jose Cordero was phenomenal on the mound, pitching a complete game shutout allowing only five hits while striking out six. Captains starter Thad Markray didn’t fare nearly as well giving up ten hits, nine runs and lasting only four and two thirds innings.
Once again the AirHogs began the scoring in the first when Cesar Nicolas laced a two out double to right field. Back-to-back walks to Mike Conroy and Javier Brito loaded the bases for Chad Gabriel who singled up the middle scoring Nicolas and Conroy to give the AirHogs the early two run lead.
In the fifth, the AirHogs would sent fourteen batters to the plate scoring ten runs on eight hits. It started as Aaron Garza smacked his fourteenth double of the year to the wall with one out in the inning. Cesar Nicolas singled him home to tack a run onto the AirHog lead making it 3-0. Mike Conroy followed with a walk and Javier Brito doubled into the left field corner to bring home Conroy and Nicolas to make it 5-0. Chad Gabriel then came through with an RBI single and advanced to third as the centerfielder over ran the ball. Ron Fenwick followed with a walk before J.B. Tucker ripped an two RBI double off the right field wall. Drew Holder singled home Tucker to make it 9-0 and advanced to second base on the throw home. Aaron Garza reached first on an error before Brandon Carter lined his third homer of the year over the left field wall to make it 12-0 AirHogs.
Grand Prairie didn’t stop, adding two more runs in the next inning as Javier Brito led off with his first homerun of the season. Chad Gabriel followed with a double to the right center gap and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Drew Holder then lined a single past the shortstop to bring home Gabriel making the score 14-0.
With the game already out of reach the AirHogs made history in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded and two outs Brandon Carter singled home Gabriel to push the lead to fifteen. Cesar Nicolas then doubled to the left field corner to score two more making it seventeen nothing. Mike Conroy then blooped a singled into the Bermuda Triangle to score Carter making it 18-0.
The eighteen run deficit is the largest in American Association league history. The previous was set by St. Joe in a 17-1 victory over St. Paul’s on July 31, 2007.
Brandon Carter and his four RBI led the way for the AirHogs while Cesar Nicolas continued his torrid hot streak going 4-6 with 3 RBI. Chad Gabriel and Javier Brito each went 3-5 with 3 RBI as well.
