TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Travs Rout 'Riders 10-3 To Take Series Lead

Published on September 12, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco, Texas - The Arkansas Travelers (5-1) took a 2-1 lead in the 2008 Texas League Finals with a 10-3 victory over the Frisco RoughRiders (4-2) on Friday night. After falling behind 1-0, the Travs rallied for seven runs in the second inning and never looked back. Brian Stavisky finished 3-for-5 with a home run (1) and three RBI, while Hank Conger knocked in two more runs to run his postseason total to 12 RBI in six games. Right-hander David Austen (1-0) was strong in an eight-inning performance to earn the victory.

With Hurricane Ike expected to dump rain throughout the Dallas Metroplex all day Saturday, game four has been pushed back to Sunday. The Travs can win the 2008 Texas League Championship with a victory either Sunday or Monday if a fifth game is necessary.

Every Traveler in the starting lineup either scored or knocked in a run and eight of nine batters either scored or collected an RBI in the second inning.

The 'Riders struck first off Austen in the opening frame. With Dustin Majewski at second base with two outs and Emerson Frostad at first, Chad Tracy lined to the left-field fence to score one run. Stavisky and Wil Ortiz pegged Frostad at home plate to end the inning.

Frisco righty Michael Schact (1-1) pitched a scoreless first inning and retired the first batter of the second inning. Then five consecutive batters reached base beginning with Corey Smith's (1) game-tying home run to left field. Mark Trumbo, who finished 2-for-5, followed with a single then Schlact walked Jordan Czarniecki. Chris Pettit lined a double to left field scoring Trumbo with the go-ahead run. Both Czarniecki and Pettit scored when Nate Sutton hit a double over the left-fielder's head for a 4-1 lead. With two outs, Stavisky singled to right-center knocking in Sutton. He then stole second base and Schlact walked Ben Johnson before being lifted. Conger greeted reliever Jared Hyatt with a shot to right field that bounced away from Majewski who dove for the ball. Two runs scored to cap the inning with a 7-1 Travs advantage.

Hyatt pitched into the fourth inning then issued a leadoff walk to Sutton. Ortiz singled then Stavisky hit a high fly ball that carried over the left-field fence for a three-run homer and a 10-1 lead.

Austen had cruised after the first inning and retired 12 of 13 batters before Julio Borbon hit a home run to begin the bottom of the sixth. Austen finished the inning leaving runners at second and third.

Austen allowed a run in the seventh inning on a two-out single by Borbon which knocked in John Whittleman. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth inning for the Travs.

Arkansas didn't manage a run in the last five innings, each were thrown by a different Frisco pitcher.

Time of game was 2:41 and the paid attendance was 4,378.

NOTE: The seven-run inning was the highest run output for the Travs since joining the Texas League in 1966...The Travs have wins in seven of eight games going back to the regular season...

With Saturday's game already postponed, the Travs plan on keeping right-hander Dan Denham on schedule to pitch game four. Frisco will use game one starter Derek Holland for Sunday's game. First pitch will be thrown at 6:00 p.m.

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from September 12, 2008


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