TL1 Arkansas Travelers

'Riders Even Series With 4-3 Victory

Published on September 10, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, Arkansas - The Arkansas Travelers (4-1) suffered their first loss of the postseason on Wednesday night, falling 4-3 to the Frisco RoughRiders to even the 2008 Texas League Championship Series (best-of-five) at 1-1. The RoughRiders rallied from behind to take the lead in the fourth inning on an RBI triple by shortstop Elvis Andrus. Right-hander Neftali Feliz (2-0) struck out six in six innings for the victory, while Travs righty Bobby Mosebach (0-1) was knocked out of the game in the fourth in his playoff debut.

Feliz allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in his six innings. He struggled out of the game and issued back-to-back walks in the first inning to Wil Ortiz and Brian Stavisky. A passed ball charged to Emerson Frostad moved the runners up, and both scored when Hank Conger singled with two outs to centerfield. Feliz then buckled down and set down 13 consecutive batters allowing Frisco to battle back.

Mosebach left runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings and retired the first two batters of the third. The next five Frisco batters reached base however as the 'Riders tied the game. Jose Vallejo singled off Corey Smith's glove at third base, then he stole second base and Mosebach walked Dustin Majewski. Frostad singled hard up the middle to score Vallejo then Chad Tracy walked to load the bases. Steve Murphy then slowly bounced on the right side towards second baseman Nate Sutton. Mark Trumbo ranged far off first base and interfered with Sutton as the ball bounced off his foot for an error as the tying run scored.

With the game tied at 2-2, Mosebach walked Julio Borbon in the fourth with one out. After a stolen base, Borbon scored when Andrus drove a triple to centerfield. Right-hander Amalio Diaz relieved and Vallejo lined his first pitch for a single to drive in Andrus for a 4-2 Frisco lead.

Diaz kept Frisco off the scoreboard during his three innings before handing the ball to lefty Barret Browning, who pitched 1.2 more innings without allowing a run or a hit. Rafael Rodriguez tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

After Feliz retired 13 straight through the fifth, Nate Sutton hit a single to begin the sixth. Ortiz then punched a groundball through the right side for a base hit and Sutton streaked for third base. Majewski fielded the ball in short right field and fired a no-bounce throw to third nailing Sutton on a close play. Ortiz came behind the play and advanced to second then scored when Stavisky singled to center. Corey Smith also singled advancing Stavisky to second, then Smith broke up a double play with a hard slide on Conger's fielder's choice. With the tying run at third base, Feliz got Ben Johnson to fly out to end the threat.

Feliz was replaced by Alfredo Gonzalez for the seventh inning, and Mark Trumbo greeted him with a single. After Chris Pettit sacrificed Trumbo to second base, Coby Smith hit a flare to short right field that Vallejo chased. He landed awkwardly after diving for the ball and it squeaked out from underneath him. Trumbo held at second base on the single as Vallejo was very slow in getting up. Gonzalez kept Frisco up by striking out Sutton then getting Ortiz on a fly ball to center.

Gonzalez struck out Stavisky, Conger and Johnson in the eighth inning before Frisco righty Andrew Laughter (1) threw a perfect ninth for the save.

Time of game was 3:08 and the paid attendance was 1,983.

NOTE: Vallejo left the game before the eighth inning with an unspecified injury.

The teams will travel to Frisco on Thursday then resume the series on Friday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Arkansas has righty David Austen throwing game three while the RoughRiders counter with right-hander Michael Schlact. First pitch on Friday is set for 7:00 p.m.

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from September 10, 2008


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