TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Travs Drop Game Four 3-1 To Frisco

Published on September 14, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco, Texas - The Arkansas Travelers (5-2) had a tough night Sunday managing just three base hits while committing four errors in a 3-1 loss to the RoughRiders (5-2). Frisco's win forces a fifth-and-deciding game for the Texas League Championship on Monday night. All three Frisco runs scored in the eighth inning without a ball leaving the infield. Elvis Andrus collected the only RBI for Frisco with an infield single in the eighth inning. Two more runs scored on a two-out throwing error by Travs third baseman Corey Smith.

Nate Sutton collected two base hits and drove in the only Arkansas run. The rest of the Travs combined to go 1-for-26 against four Frisco pitchers.

Hard-throwing lefty Derek Holland gave up a bunt single by Sutton and a bloop base hit by Smith over a six-inning start. He walked a batter and struck out six in a no-decision.

Frisco right-handed reliever Clayton Hamilton (1-0) earned the win and allowed the only Travs run over 1.2 innings. Lefty Beau Jones got one out, and veteran righty Brandon Puffer (1) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Daniel Davidson (0-1) worked in and out of trouble in suffering his first loss of the season. He left seven runners in scoring position over the first six innings, but returned for the seventh inning and didn't record an out. He was charged with two runs (one earned) on five hits, two walks and a wild pitch.

Hitless over the series until leading off the seventh inning, Steve Murphy laid down a bunt that brought Davidson towards the third-base line. Murphy was very close to the base when he fielded it, but Davidson threw anyway towards first and it sailed to the first-base railing where it stuck underneath the tarp. Murphy was awarded second base, while Davidson was charged with an error. Tim Gradoville then bunted towards third base, and Smith took a chance with an attempt to get Murphy at third base but the throw bounced and both runners were safe.

Left-handed reliever Barret Browning was summoned to replace Davidson and he got a pop up from Julio Borbon. Andrus then chopped over the mound bringing shortstop Wil Ortiz behind the mound. He had no chance for an out at home plate as Murphy scored, but Ortiz made flipped without looking behind his back to second base and Sutton had to come off the base to field it. After the second out, Smith threw wildly on a routine ground ball hit by Chad Tracy to bring in Gradoville and Andrus for a 3-0 Frisco lead.

Twelve consecutive batters had been retired before Jordan Czarniecki worked a walk from Hamilton in the eighth. He moved up on a wild pitch and scored when Sutton lined a two-out single to center field. The Travs got the tying run on base when Ortiz was hit on the back foot by a pitch from Jones. But Borbon made a running catch on a hard liner hit by Brian Stavisky to end the threat.

Time of game was 2:43 and the paid attendance was 4,321.

The final game of the 2008 Texas League season will be played Monday night at Frisco. The winner of the game will be crowned Texas League champions. Arkansas sends righty Dan Denham (1-0 in playoffs) to the mound against Frisco righty Neftali Feliz (2-0 in playoffs). The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.

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Texas League Stories from September 14, 2008


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