Capahas resume winning ways

The Plaza Tire Capahas started Friday night's game 55 minutes late because Evansville, Ind., had car problems on the way to Cape Girardeau.

It was worth the wait for the Capahas, who bounced back from a rare loss to post a 6-1 victory.

The Capahas improved to 23-5, after they had an eight-game winning streak snapped Tuesday at Fairview Heights, Ill. Evansville is 22-14.

"It's definitely good to bounce back after a loss," Plaza Tire's Asif Shah said.

Plaza Tire, winning for the 18th time in its last 20 games, continued to receive stellar pitching.

Jason Chavez, Brad LaBruyere and Josh Parham combined on a five-hitter.

Chavez (5-0) hurled the first five innings, allowing Evansville's lone run and two hits. He struck out four and walked three.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com ABOVE: Kendal Deason scored for the Capahas as Evansville catcher Steve McNabb took a tumble on the fifth-inning play during Friday's game at Capaha Field. BELOW: Zach Johnson was tagged out by McNabb as he tried to follow Deason home on the same play.

LaBruyere, continuing to impress in his rookie season with the Capahas, went the next three innings. He allowed two hits, struck out two and walked none.

Parham, who has not allowed a run in 16 1/3 innings this year, worked the ninth, giving up one hit. He struck out one and walked two as he forced Evansville to leave the bases loaded.

"Our pitching has been very good all year," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said.

The Capahas trailed 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning against Evansville's Jimmy Sutts, an impressive left-hander.

"He was a good pitcher. He had good stuff," Shah said. "We came up with some clutch hits."

Plaza Tire finally got to Sutts in the fifth, taking the lead for good with two runs, although one was unearned thanks to a Sutts error.

Chad Mercado had an RBI double in the frame, while Jerry Hodges drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

The Capahas got some breathing room with a two-run seventh, the big blow being a solo home run by Daniel Schuh, his first round-tripper of the season. Hodges added an RBI single.

Plaza Tire broke things open with a two-run eighth, taking advantage of three walks by Evansville reliever Nate Wedeking.

Mercado led the Capahas' nine-hit attack with two doubles and two RBIs. Hodges also had two hits and two RBIs. Schuh and Shah added two hits apiece.

"Mercado came up with some big hits for us," Shah said.

Evansville had taken its only lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning, getting its only two hits off Chavez. The visitors' five hits were all singles.

"It was a good ballgame," said Bolen, whose squad swept a doubleheader at Evansville on Sunday. "They've always got a pretty decent team, and that pitcher they threw against us was good."

Plaza Tire hosts the St. Louis Golden Spikes at 1 p.m. today. The Golden Spikes handed the Capahas one of their five losses this season.

"The Golden Spikes have a real good hitting team, so it should be a good test for us," Bolen said.

Evansville 000 010 000 -- 1 5 2

Capahas 000 020 22x -- 6 9 2

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:WP -- Jason Chavez, 5-0. LP -- Jimmy Sutts, 0-0. HR -- Daniel Schuh (C). 3B -- Asif Shah (C). 2B -- Chad Mercado (C) 2, Zach Borowiak (C). Multiple hits -- Capahas: Mercado 2-3, Jerry Hodges 2-3, Schuh 2-4, Shah 2-4. Records -- Evansville, 22-4; Capahas 23-5.