Eighth Inning Rally Does in Travs at Frisco
Published on April 15, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Frisco, Texas - Poised for their fourth win of the season, the Travelers failed to hold a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning allowing three runs as the Frisco RoughRiders stormed back and sent the Travs to a 4-3 defeat. Guilder Rodriguez's single deflected off relief pitcher Andrew Taylor and dribble away to knock in the winning run. The 'Riders collected four hits and took advantage of a walk and a hit batter to send nine batters to the plate in the deciding eighth frame. With losses in four of five games, the Travs have now been outscored 16-2 in the eighth inning this season.
Now 1-3 on their road trip, the Travs fall to 3-7 for the season. Frisco owns a three-game winning streak and a 7-3 record.
Early on the Travs built a 3-0 lead against RoughRiders starting pitcher Tim Murphy with runs in the first, third and fourth innings. Matt Long, who finished 2-for-4, began the game with a bloop single then came home when Darwin Perez lined a double. Murphy left Perez on base retiring the next three batters.
Long pushed the lead to 2-0 with a solo homer (1) in the third inning. Then in the fourth, Adam Heether worked a leadoff walk and moved up on a two-out single by Renny Osuna. Alberto Rosario sent Heether to the plate with a double to the left field fence, but Osuna ran through a stop sign and was thrown out at home by left fielder Ryan Strausborger and shortstop Jurickson Profar.
Greg Smith only allowed one run in six innings in Sunday's start, that coming on Brad Hawpe's leadoff homer (2) in the fourth inning. Smith though was in command mostly except for a bout of wildness in the third inning with a couple of walks. However Smith left the bases loaded and gave a 3-1 lead to the bullpen.
New Travs lefty Dakota Robinson pitched a shutout seventh inning in his Double-A debut then handed the lead to Daniel Tillman.
Tillman found immediate trouble as Profar hit a leadoff home run bringing the RoughRiders within a 3-2 score. Mike Olt followed with a drive that was caught on the warning track in right field. Tillman followed by walking Hawpe then was removed after hitting Jared Prince to put the go-ahead run on base. Taylor relieved and made a good pitch to Engel Beltre, which was blooped for a single just over Perez's glove and into left field. Hawpe rounded third and beat the throw from Ryan Mount to tie the game. After Taylor recorded the second out, Leury Garcia kept the inning going beating a grounder to third base to load the bases with a single. Rodriguez slapped the comebacker which Taylor deflected away allowing the winnin g run to score.
Tillman (0-3) was charged with three runs in 0.1 innings to suffer the loss.
Johan Yan pitched ninth inning with just a hit batsman for his fourth save.
Time of game was 2:34 and the paid attendance was 10,315.
Monday night the Travs and 'Riders resume their three-game series at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Arkansas sends A.J. Schugel (0-1, 3.60) to the hill while Frisco counters with righty Justin Grimm (2-0, 0.77). First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
Texas League Stories from April 15, 2012
- 'Riders Rally in Eighth, Win 4-3 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cardinals Pounded by Midland 18-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Eighth Inning Rally Does in Travs at Frisco - Arkansas Travelers
- Arenado's Homer Gives Drillers Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Washed Away on Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, April 15 at Tulsa - Corpus Christi Hooks
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