Former Airline pitcher off to 5-0 start in pro career

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains’ 4-1 victory over the Fort Worth Cats at Fair Grounds Field Wednesday night was just another day at the office for former Airline High and Northwestern State pitcher Jimmy Heard.

Heard allowed six hits and no walks in 7-1/3 innings, his longest outing in his first pro season, and struck out four batters, retiring 10 straight batters in one stretch to improve his record to 5-0.

He has started six games this season and the Captains won all six, but Heard didn’t get the decision in one of them.

He has pitched 35-1/3 innings and has allowed 30 hits and 10 walks, with 24 strikeouts. His earned run average is 1.53.  Opponents are batting .229 against him.

That’s not too shabby for a rookie who was winding up his college career a couple of months ago, setting NSU records for career innings pitched and career strikeouts.

The victory gave the Captains a 10-3 record in the second half of the 2009 season and a 2-1/2 game lead over runnerup Pensacola. Fort Worth won the first half and has the league’s best record at 30-18.

The Captains, who tied El Paso for last place in the South Division in the first half, are 22-26 for the season.

Captains first baseman Bryan Sabatella led the way offensively, going three-for-four with a double and two runs scored. He also drove in a run.

Designated hitter Christopher Garcia and third baseman Andres Rodriguez chipped in with two-for-four nights in which they each drove in a run.

Captains closer Justin Dowdy, who struck out three batters and allowed one hit in the ninth inning of the All-Star game at Grand Prairie the previous night, earned his 12th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He struck out one batter.

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