TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Missions Sweep Travs as Offense Scuffles

Published on May 24, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


San Antonio, Texas- Friday night the San Antonio Missions finished a three-game sweep of Arkansas by downing the Travelers in the finale, 4-1. The Travs, who last Friday night erased a five-run deficit to top Springfield for their eighth straight win, have now lost a season-high four consecutive games.

The game began in similar fashion to Thursday night's contest. Both offenses were kept off of the scoreboard until the fifth inning, but like last night both sides had chances opportunities before that.

Travs starter Lay Batista pitched a clean first inning before finding trouble in the second. Johan Limonta led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by Jake Blackwood.

However, Batista quickly quieted the rally with the help of his corner infielders. Eddy Rodriguez hit a chopper to third that was handled by Kaleb Cowart. Cowart flipped the ball home in time for catcher Anthony Bemboom to apply a tag on Limonta for the first out. A.J. Kirby-Jones followed by hitting a bouncer to C.J. Cron at first. Like Cowart, Cron went home on the play to Bemboom to tag out out Blackwood for the second out. Batista finished the inning by getting Jeudy Valdez to hit into a fielders choice at second.

Former Angel's farmhand Donn Roach started for the Missions. Roach, traded last summer in a deal that helped the Angels acquire Ernesto Frieri, allowed the Travs to load the bases in the fifth inning without a hit.

Roach walked two and hit a batter with one out in the fifth before the Travs broke the scoreless tie. Drew Heid hit a grounder to Limonta at first. Limonta threw home for the force, but Travis Witherspoon scored after the catcher Rodriguez failed to make the catch.

The run snapped an 18-inning scoreless draught for the Travs that dated back to Wednesday's game. Arkansas had a chance for more in the inning, but failed to score. With the bases still loaded and one out Kaleb Cowart and C.J. Cron struck out back-to-back to end the inning.

San Antonio took advantage of the Travlers scoring only one run. A.J. Kirby-Jones led off the bottom of the fifth by hitting his third homer of the season. After Jeudy Valdez walked and Adam Buschini singled, Reymond Fuentes laced a two-run triple. The hit gave the Missions the lead and ended the night of Lay Batista.

The start marked the second straight for Batista that he failed to complete the fifth inning. Batista pitched at least six innings in six straight starts previous to the last two.

San Antonio added another run in the sixth inning on a single by Valdez. Valdez closed the series by going 7-for-9 for the Missions.

Ryan Kelly worked the final two innings to secure his first save of the season.

The Travs look to snap the skid on Saturday when the road trip shifts to Corpus Christi. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, and Travs LH Michael Roth (1-0, 1.38) is slated to make his third Double-A start of the season. Coverage of the game begins at 6:40 with the Travs Dugout Show on Sports Animal 920.

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Texas League Stories from May 24, 2013


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