Grichuk Homers Twice to Fuel Comeback
Published on May 11, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The Arkansas Travelers survived a sloppy first inning and a five-run deficit to claim an 8-6 victory over the Tulsa Drillers on Saturday night before 8,063 fans at ONEOK Field. Randal Grichuk's second home run of the night (5), a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning, completed the comeback giving the Travs their second straight win over the Drillers.
Grichuk, who also homered leading off the second inning, has three home runs and a triple in the three games at Tulsa and enjoyed the Travs' first two home run game of the year. C.J. Cron also homered (2) and collected three base hits while Drew Heid knocked in three runs including the tying runs with a two-out double in the eighth inning.
Tulsa rallied early against Travs starter Matt Oye for five runs in the first inning. Angelys Nina cracked a three-run home run (3) to get the scoring started. After Henry Wrigley singled, Kaleb Cowart fielded a grounder hit by Jayson Langfels and threw to second for the force play, but Lindsey dropped the ball and allowed the inning to continue. Things looked worse when Grichuk and Travis Witherspoon failed to communicate on a routine fly ball hit by Jose Gonzalez resulting in a dropped ball and a two-run error.
Oye buckled down though and only allowed one run in his remaining five innings, on Wrigley's leadoff homer in the third inning. He was charged with six runs (four earned) on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts in a six-inning no-decision.
Arkansas trailed 6-2 into the sixth inning when Tulsa removed starting pitcher Chad Bettis. Bettis threw only 69 pitches over five innings before being pulled in favor of reliever Joe Gardner. Cron's homer with one out in the sixth greeted Gardner, and pulled the Travs within three.
Gardner turned in a scoreless seventh, but in the eighth it was again Cron igniting a rally. Cron singled to center to start the inning before Gardner plunked Robbie Widlansky and Grichuk with consecutive pitches to load the bases with no outs.
Tulsa called on Isaiah Froneberger to take over for Gardner. Froneberger forced Lindsey to lineout to center for the first out. Witherspoon followed by driving home Cron on a sacrifice fly to deep left. With two outs, Heid doubled to score two and tie the game.
Nick Maronde, who entered in relief of Oye by pitching a scoreless seventh, came back out in the eighth inning and set down the Drillers in order.
With the game tied into the ninth inning the Travs were faced with the task of scoring against Tulsa RH Mike Marbry. Marbry entered the game holding opponents to an opponent batting average of .089 and had not allowed a run in ten appearances.
Marbry quickly retired Cowart and Cron on groundouts to start the inning, but allowed the frame to continue by issuing a two-out walk to Widlansky. That set the stage for Grichuk to break the tie with his second homer of the night.
Kevin Johnson saved his Texas League-leading seventh game of the season by retiring the Drillers in order in the ninth. Nick Maronde picked up his first victory in the process after pitching two scoreless innings in relief.
Arkansas (17-17) goes for the series win at Tulsa on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Arkansas sends RH Manny Correa against Tulsa RH Tim Gustafson. Coverage of the game begins with the Travs Dugout Show at 1:40 p.m. on Sports Animal 920.
Texas League Stories from May 11, 2013
- Grichuk Homers Twice to Fuel Comeback - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Prevail in Marathon Game - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Late Comeback Gives Missions Doubleheader Split with RockHounds - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Can't Hold Early Lead in Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- Perez Shaky, RoughRiders Beaten by Hooks 9-3 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Anderson Scheduled to Make Re-Hab Start - Midland RockHounds
- Whitaker Joins RockHounds from Stockton - Midland RockHounds
- Tulsa Drillers Attempt World Record - Tulsa Drillers
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