The AirHogs got their best start of the season and took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning but could not hold on, after the walk off grand slam off the bat of Leobaldo Pina for Fargo-Moorhead lifted the RedHawks to victory 6-3.

Gan Quan went seven innings allowing just two runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out one batter. The Rehawks got to Quan early after Brennan Metzger doubled to start the game and eventually came around on a Tim Colwell single. Quan walked Devan Ahart before getting a pop up from Chris Jacobs and then inducing an inning ending double play off the bat of T.J. Bennett.

The RedHawks added another run in the 3rd inning after back to back doubles from Colwell and Ahart. But after that Gan Quan settled in and was nearly untouchable. After the Ahart double Gan Quan retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

In the top of the 5th inning Luan Chenchen lined a base hit up the middle into center field to start the inning. Song Yunqi then stepped to the plate, still looking for his first hit of the season and boy did he get it! Yunqi jumped all over a first pitch fastball, clobbering a game tying two run home run to left field, Song Yunqi’s first of his American Association career. After the Yunqi homer, Javion Randle lined his second base hit of the game into center. He then advanced to second on a Li Ning sacrifice before getting to third on a passed ball. Randle eventually scored on Jonathon Moroney’s RBI groundout to third, putting the AirHogs on top 3-2.

Taylor Wright was called upon for the six out save after Gan Quan’s brilliant outing. He got the first 3 quick;y, retiring the side in order in the 8th inning. But in the 9th Taylor allowed a walk to Ahart on a 3-2 pitch, a single to Jacobs, and then walked Bennett. Wright then faced Pina with the bases loaded, challenging the 3rd basemen with a heater but catching too much plate. Leobaldo Pina took the fastball out to left and that was the ballgame, with the AirHogs falling 6-3.

The AirHogs have a scheduled day off for Memorial day before taking on the Sioux City Explorers on Tuesday. RHP Zhang Tao for Texas will face RHP Jason Garcia for Sioux City. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm and the AirHogs pre-game show will start at 6:45, available on mixlr.com/txairhogs

Individual tickets for the 2019 season are on sale now. Visit AirHogsBaseball.com for more information. For the latest news, follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @TXAirHogs.  Media inquiries:tcostello@texasairhogs.com cell: 346.303.152.

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