Gerardo Bustamante doubled to center field leading off the second. Edwin Bellorin grounded out to second to move Bustamante to third base. After Mike Conroy was retired on a groundout to second, Mojica laid down a two-out bunt along the third base line that scored Bustamante. The play was ruled an error after John Alonso dropped Greg Porter's throw at first base.
Mitch Einertson, who had four hits in the game, led off the fourth with a single and scored on a hit-and-run double to right-center from Josh Workman.
The AirHogs had the first of three big innings in the bottom of the fourth. Stephen Douglas, German Duran, Espinosa, and Porter all singled on line drives to open the frame, with Porter's cutting the lead to 3-1. Wingnuts' starter Derek Blacksher got Nicolas to ground into a double play, scoring Duran and sending the tying run to third. John Alonso followed with a two-run home run to right field that gave Grand Prairie a 4-3 lead.
The Wingnuts answered back in the top of the fifth. A Mojica single, and a Juan Richardson walk set up a line drive, three-run home run to right from Rivera.
With the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, Horn singled through the middle to increase the Wingnuts' lead to 8-4. Rivera added another run with a sacrifice fly to center.
Grand Prairie plated three in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 9-7. Duran, Espinosa, and Porter all singled against Blacksher to open the inning. With the score at 9-5 in favor of the Wingnuts, Geivy Garcia relieved Blacksher and hit Nicolas with a pitch to load the bases. After Alonso was robbed by Bustamante on a shallow popfly to right, David Thomas ripped a double down the right field line to score two more runs. Kendy Batista relieved Garcia and recorded the next two outs to keep the Wingnuts in front.
Blacksher took a no-decision, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in five-plus innings. Blacksher walked one and struck out one.
Douglas and Duran singled off Batista to open the bottom of the seventh. Eric Gilliland came on and hit Espinosa to load the bases. Porter then hit a bloop double down the left field line that scored the tying runs. Simon took over for Gilliland and allowed a sacrifice fly to center from Nicolas. On the same play, Porter scored from second when Einertson's throw bounced away from Juan Richardson at third base.
Trailing 11-9 in the top of the eighth, the Wingnuts rallied to tie the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Einertson singled to center field. Workman lifted a sacrifice fly to center that evened the score at 11-11.
Jon Hunton, who earned the win for Grand Prairie, escaped a first and second, one out jam in the top of the ninth to keep the game tied.
Tim Brown started for the AirHogs and also took a no-decision. Brown went five and one-third innings, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits. Brown walked one and struck out two.
The first four hitters in Grand Prairie's lineup were a combined 11 for 18 with 11 runs scored.
The Wingnuts host the AirHogs in Game Three of the series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Ryan Hinson takes on right-hander Josh Rainwater. A fireworks show will follow the game.
2011 Opening Round Schedule (Grand Prairie Leads Series 2-0)
Game 3: Saturday, September 3rd - Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4*: Sunday, September 4th - Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5*: Monday, September 5th - Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, 7:05 p.m.
*If Necessary
