Travs Beat Naturals On Majewski Magic
Published on June 26, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS - The Arkansas Travelers got two home runs from right fielder Val Majewski (4), the second breaking a 4-4 tie game in the tenth inning, to earn a 7-4 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Friday night at Arvest Ballpark. After blasting a two-run shot in the first inning to help build the Travs a 4-0 lead, Majewski came up big again after the Naturals tied the game with four runs in the eighth inning when he took Aaron Hartsock deep for a three-run homer with two outs in the tenth inning.
All seven Arkansas runs and eight of their nine base hits came with two outs. Three times the Travs had nobody on base and two outs and managed to score multiple runs in pulling of their second win in their last 11 meetings with the Naturals. Hank Conger joined Majewski as the only Travs with two base hits and he scored on each of Majewski's dingers.
For the fourth game in a row, the Travs tallied a run in the first inning after Matt Kniginyzyky struck out the first two batters. Conger singled to center and Majewski powered an 0-1 pitch over the right field bullpen giving the Travs a 2-0 lead.
Kniginyzyky kept the Travs at bay until the seventh inning when he allowed two more runs. Nate Sutton singled to center and scored when Wil Ortiz lined a triple to the right-field corner. Kniginyzyky's wild pitch scored Ortiz giving the Travelers a 4-0 lead.
Arkansas right hander Jordan Walden retired the first nine Northwest Arkansas batters before allowing a single to Jarrod Dyson in the fourth. Walden picked him off and ran through the next three innings allowing just a bunt base hit by Jeff Bianchi. Coming into the eighth inning, Walden had allowed only four base hits without a walk but Cody Clark hit a leadoff double and Walden was replaced after allowing a bouncer up the middle for a single by Chris McConnell to put runners at the corners.
Bobby Cassevah relieved to face Jose Duarte, who chopped behind second base for a force play on McConnell while Clark scored from third. Duarte advanced to third when Dyson singled to center and scored on a single by Kurt Mertins. The Naturals got within 4-3 when Dyson scored from third base on a bouncer hit by Ed Lucas. Mertins was able to advance to second on Lucas's grounder and scored the tying run on a double to left-center by Corey Smith. Cassevah got out of the inning leaving Smith at second with a strikeout of CodyStrait.
Bobby Mosebach came on to pitch the ninth and delivered a 1-2-3 inning to send the game into extras.
Naturals right hander Aaron Hartsock struck out Coby Smith to start the tenth then induced Peter Bourjos to bounce to third. Hainley Statia kept the inning alive with a single to center, then Conger found a gap through the right side of the infield for another single. Majewski deposited the next pitch over the centerfield wall for a 7-4 Travs lead.
Mosebach (W, 2-0) retired the side in order in the tenth inning to preserve the win.
The Travs are now 30-43 overall and 2-1 in the second half. They improve to 3-5 in extra-inning games.
Time of game tonight was 3:03 and the paid attendance numbered 6,750.
The second game of the series is set for Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Arkansas lefty Trevor Reckling (4-2, 2.52) will pitch against Naturals righty Dan Cortes (5-6, 4.28).
Texas League Stories from June 26, 2009
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- Travs Beat Naturals On Majewski Magic - Arkansas Travelers
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- Series Preview: Travs back in town again - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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- Cards Clip Travs With Three Homers Thursday - Arkansas Travelers
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