Friday, July 5, 1996

Gagliano leads PDogs to extra innings win

By LANCE FLEMING
Staff Writer

Manny Gagliano got the fireworks started early Thursday night at Scott Field, driving in the game-winning run in the 11th inning to lift the Prairie Dogs to a 2-1 win over Tyler, their eighth straight victory.

The win pushed the Prairie Dogs' record to 31-15 and gave them the undisputed Texas-Louisiana League first-half championship. It also put the estimated crowd of 5,500 at Scott Field in a celebratory mood for the post- game "All-American Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular."

Abilene struggled through most of the contest against Tyler starting pitcher Billy Johnson, who had a perfect game through 61/3 innings. But Eric Gonzalez broke up the perfect game bid when he walked with one out in the seventh.

He advanced to second on a balk and went to third on a passed ball. Rod Brewer then broke up the no-hit bid when he singled in Gonzalez to tie the game at 1-1.

"Johnson pitched a great game," Gagliano said. "He kept us off balance the whole game. When we did hit something, we hit it right at somebody. We hit a couple of balls hard early, but nothing fell for us."

The two teams then battled through three more scoreless innings before the Prairie Dogs won it in the 11th. Both teams had chances to break the tie, but couldn't break through with a run.

Tyler left the bases loaded in the eighth and 10th innings, and left two men on in the 11th. Abilene, which only collected six hits on the night, left a pair on the eighth and one on in the ninth.

But the Prairie Dogs finally pieced together the winning rally in the 11th.

Kyle Heller led things off with a pinch-hit single off Mark Mesewicz, then exited in favor of pinch runner Tony Rich. Monroe then singled to give the Dogs runners at first and second.

But a sacrifice bunt attempt by Gonzalez was foiled when Rich was thrown out at third. Gonzalez was then picked off first base, leaving the pressure on Gagliano to keep the inning alive.

Gagliano promptly drove a 1-1 pitch into the gap in left-centerfield that plated Monroe just in front of the throw from left fielder Richie Hare.

"Kyle got us started, and that was a great job to come off the bench and get a hit," Gagliano said. "I was just trying to do my b est and get a pitch to drive. I figured if it falls, Darryl has a good chance of scoring."

Tyler got on the board first against Abilene starting pitcher Sam Arminio with a run in the third inning. Three straight singles and a Jason Smiga sacrifice fly gave the Wildcatters a 1-0 lead, but that was all they would get.

Arminio scattered eight hits over eight innings, and was helped by a defense that turned three double plays behind him.