Batista, Travs Blank Naturals
Published on May 7, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Tuesday the Arkansas Travelers salvaged a split with Northwest Arkansas by shutting out the Naturals 6-0 in the series finale. Lay Batista started for the Travs and threw 6 2/3 innings and scattered three hits on way to earning his second win of the season. Nick Maronde and Michael Cisco combined to record the last seven outs to preserve the shutout.
Facing NW Arkansas southpaw Noel Arguelles, the Travs didn't breakthrough offensively until the third inning. After Drew Heid reached with a walk and Rolando Gomez singled, Kaleb Cowart doubled to left to score both runners.
Arkansas added to the lead in the fifth on a leadoff homer by Travis Witherspoon. The long ball was the third of the season for Witherspoon. The Travs had a chance to add to the lead after Heid followed with a doubled and Gomez walked, but Arguelles worked around further damage. With one out the lefty forced Cowart into a grounder to third that turned into a double play.
Arkansas doubled their 3-0 lead in the seventh. Heid led off by clubbing his second homer of the season. After a single by Jett Bandy and a walk by Matt Long, C.J. Cron hit the Travs second two-run double of the game.
Batista started the outing by yielding just one hit over the first five innings. Batista needed only 51 pitches to get through five innings and ultimately exited with two outs in the seventh inning having thrown just 78 pitches.
Nick Maronde entered from the bullpen with two runners and allowed a walk that loaded the bases with two outs. However, Maronde bounced back immediately by striking out Alex Llanos to end the inning. Michael Cisco entered in the ninth and retired the side in order.
Cowart, Cron and Heid all collected two hits each in the game. The Travs finished as a club with five extra base hits in the game.
Arkansas (15-16) now travels to Tulsa to begin a four-game series on Wednesday with the Drillers. Game one is scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m. from ONEOK Field. Coverage begins at 3:40 p.m. with the Travs Dugout Show on Sports Animal 920.
Texas League Stories from May 7, 2013
- Perez and Barfield Spark Hounds - Midland RockHounds
- Batista, Travs Blank Naturals - Arkansas Travelers
- Whiting Tops Tulsa Again - Tulsa Drillers
- RoughRiders Bullpen Falters in Back-And-Forth Affair, 8-5 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Batista, Travelers Blank Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Blank Drillers, 2-0, for Series Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Ventura Hurls Naturals Past Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Ex-ZACH-Tly What the Baseball Doctor Ordered - Midland RockHounds
- Tulsa Takes Monday Night Contest in Springfield - Springfield Cardinals
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