Grand Prairie AirHogs Week in Review, June 8-14, 2015
Week in Review
A 2-5 week made it a tough one in the Lone Star state for the Grand Prairie AirHogs. This could have easily been a 4-3 week had it not been for two late rallies by the Joplin Blasters, proving this club is not very far away from taking their game to the next level.
The Sioux Falls Canaries took the first game of their three-game series, scoring three in the fourth and five in the sixth. Blake Oliver pitched well for the most part, but the two innings did him in on this night.
The Grand Prairie AirHogs responded with a 4-2 victory one night later. TJ Bozeman pitched seven outstanding innings, allowing just one run in earning his first win of the season. The AirHogs lineup made the most of their five hits, scoring four runs and taking advantage of three Sioux Falls errors.
The Canaries dominated the final game of the series, 9-1. Grand Prairie managed just three-hits in the loss.
Grand Prairie moved onto Joplin, where they lost the first two games on walk-off hits. In Game 1, Omar Luna capped off a five-run comeback by hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Blasters the 7-6 win. Game 2 was tied all game long, as both teams scored two runs in the first, then were held scoreless for the next seven innings. Back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the ninth gave Joplin their third run and the 3-2 victory.
Blake Oliver rebounded from his previous start by throwing 6.1 solid innings in a Grand Prairie AirHogs 5-3 win. Jamodrick McGruder hit his second home run of the season and Victor Diaz added two RBI. TyRelle Harris retired the final two batters for his third save.
Mark Parish silenced the AirHogs bats in the final game of the series, a 12-1 loss to Joplin. Diaz and Chris Elder each had two hits.
Sioux Falls 8, Grand Prairie 2
Grand Prairie 4, Sioux Falls 2
Sioux Falls 9, Grand Prairie 1
Joplin 7, Grand Prairie 6
Joplin 2, Grand Prairie 2
Grand Prairie 5, Joplin 3
Joplin 12, Grand Prairie 1
Who’s Hot
It has been a tough week for Grand Prairie, as the team continues to struggle offensively. Victor Diaz continues to be a bright light in the club’s lineup. Diaz had six hits during the week, scored a run and drove in 4.
Transactions
On June 8, OF Jordy Hart was placed on the disabled list and RHP Dakota Watts signed with Monclova of the Mexican League. Watts had pitched in seven games, striking out 12 in 7.2 innings pitched. He also had a win and a save.
The next day the club signed catcher Brandon Cummings and RHP Dylan Rucker. Rucker has appeared in two games so far, and Cummings has one hit in six at-bats.
On June 12, the Grand Prairie AirHogs signed outfielder Willie Cabrera. Cabrera has 9 hits in 19 at-bats since joining the club, including 2 runs and 4 RBI.
The next day infielder Ridge Hoopii-Haslam was signed by the club and RHP Jason Jarvis was put on the disabled list.
By Robert Pannier