Grichuk Sends Travs Past Cards on Sunday
Published on May 19, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock, AR- Less than 24 hours after having had their eight game winning streak snapped against the Springfield, the Arkansas Travelers got back into the win column on Sunday afternoon by downing the Cards, 5-3. Randal Grichuk broke a 3-3 tie with one out in the eighth inning by singling through a drawn in infield to score two runs. Josh Judy retired all four batters that he faced and earned his first victory after entering with the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
Arkansas jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Springfield's Seth Blair after Grichuk started the second inning with a single. After moving to second with one out, Grichuk scored on a two-out single by Drew Heid to left. Heid moved to second on the play after Mike O'Neill tried to throw out Grichuk scoring. That advancement proved costly for the Cards when Mark Fleury stepped up next and singled home Heid.
Arkansas LH Michael Roth made his second start of the season for the Travs and his first since April 9 against Midland. Roth breezed through his first two innings and did not allow a hit until an infield single by Starlin Rodriguez opened the third inning.
Roth kept the Cards off the scoreboard in the third, but found trouble in the fourth. James Ramsey singled and stole second with one out. After striking out Chris Swauger for the second out, Roth surrendered an RBI double to Xavier Scruggs. One batter later, Jake Lemmerman tied the game with a single that brought home Scruggs.
The runs snapped Roth's 12 2/3 innings scoreless streak in Double-A, and also marked the first runs allowed by Roth with the Travs this season.
Arkansas came back and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a solo homer by Taylor Lindsey (6). One batter later, Travis Witherspoon hit a shot down the line in left that was originally ruled a home run. However, after meeting for a number of minutes the umpiring crew reversed the call, and ruled the ball foul. One pitch later, Witherspoon struck out.
Arkansas used Kevin Johnson to relieve Roth at the start of the fifth. Johnson, who leads the Texas League in saves, pitched two innings but allowed Springfield to tie the game on a base hit by Mike O'Neill to center in the fifth.
The game stayed tied all the way into the eighth inning. Arkansas used three pitchers to get through the inning with the game still tied. Michael Cisco, who pitched 1 1/3 innings in the game, retired Luis Matos with a strikeout to start the inning. Buddy Boshers took over for Cisco and managed to retire just one of the next three batters. With the bases loaded and two outs, Josh Judy entered and induced a pop up to C.J. Cron at first by Scruggs to end the inning.
The Travs broke the tie in the eighth. Facing Springfield's Kevin Thomas, Kaleb Cowart reached first on a fielding error by Scruggs with one out. The Cards turned to Michael Blazek then to face Cron. Cron singled off the end of the bat to shallow left to advance Cowart from first to third. Robbie Widlansky was then walked intentionally setting the stage for Grichuk with the bases loaded. Batting with the infield in, Grichuk singled to left to score Cowart and pinch runner Trevor Hairgrove.
Judy pitched the ninth inning and retired the Cards in order to earn his first victory of the season.
Arkansas now looks to finish off the home stand with a record of 7-1 tomorrow night when they finish their series with Springfield. In the finale, which is scheduled for 7:10, the Travs send Brandon Hynick to the mound against Springfield's Richard Castillo. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 with the Travs Dugout Show on Sports Animal 920.
Texas League Stories from May 19, 2013
- Martinez Wins Fifth Straight - Corpus Christi Hooks
- RoughRiders Take Control After Early Deficit - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Rebound to Beat Naturals - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs Rally Late for 5-3 Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Grichuk Sends Travs Past Cards on Sunday - Arkansas Travelers
- Matthes, Bergman Lead Drillers to Victory - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Frisco Crushes Missions 12-1 - San Antonio Missions
- Sams Leads Missions to 9-6 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Arlett Mavare Promoted to Round Rock - Frisco RoughRiders
- Colby Lewis to Start on Monday at Dr Pepper Ballpark - Frisco RoughRiders
- Anthony Aliotti Goes Off; Hounds Win 12-4 - Midland RockHounds
- Aliotti Plates Eight Saturday Night - Corpus Christi Hooks
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