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Arkansas Travelers

Travs Fall 11-7 On Another Eighth Inning Rally

July 17, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Wichita, KS - The Wichita Wranglers (10-14, 35-59) scored eight runs in their last two at-bats to achieve an 11-7 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (10-14, 41-53). The Travs held the lead from the start of the game after a four-run rally in the first inning, but for the second straight game the Wranglers took the lead in the eighth inning. Eleven Wichita batters came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth with Jorge Padilla driving in the winning runs with a two-run single. Wichita 3B Jeff Nettles, who hit a solo shot in the second inning, yanked a three-run homer (3) off RHP Darren O'Day to cap the rally. In one of the most hit-happy games of the season, Wichita outhit the Travs 20-12 with Adam Greenberg going 4-for-5 wth a double and two runs scored. The Travs had two different four-run leads including a 7-3 cushion following the sixth inning thanks to three RBI from Corey Myers plus two-hit games from Sean Rodriguez, Adam Morrissey, Freddy Sandoval and Coby Smith. Travs RHP Miguel Gonzalez did not figure into the decision after lasting five innings and allowing three runs on eight hits. RHP Bill Edwards (4-2) took the loss with four runs allowed on three hits and a walk in only 0.1 of an inning. LHP Gilbert de la Vara (1-1) went 2.1 no-hit innings out of the Wranglers' bullpen for the win.

Almost half of the Travs' offense came in the first inning when nine batters came to the plate against Wichita starter RHP Greg Atencio. 3B Freddy Sandoval knocked in the game's first run with a singles to right field to score Brad Coon. Rodriguez loaded the bases with a single to center, and Myers cleaned up the bases with a double past third for a 4-0 lead. Atencio held the Travs at bay for the next four innings allowing Wichita time to close the gap.

Nettles got the Wranglers on the scoreboard in the second inning with a solo home run off Gonzalez in the second inning.

Gonzalez left four runners on base in the next two innings, but Greenberg began the fifth with a double off the right-field wall. A wild pitch moved Greenberg to third base, and a flare to right by Geraldo Valentin scored him. Gonzalez walked Jorge Padilla with one out putting runners at first and second. The Travs had turned two double plays behind Gonzalez already, and he got Kila Kaaihue to bounce to first. 1B Michael Collins turned and threw to second base to start the double play, but his throw went into the dirt. Rodriguez was able to field the throw for a force out, but his return throw was wild allowing Valentin to score cutting the Travs' lead to 4-3.

The Travs then teed off on LHP Juan Cedeno, who relieved Atencio for the sixth inning. Coby Smith's one-out single began the rally, although he was forced at second base on a bunt by Coon. Morrissey then hit a high fly ball to right field for a double that scored Coon. Cedeno walked Sandoval and threw a wild pitch to put runners at second and third bases. Rodriguez gave the Travs a 7-3 lead with a two-run single to center bringing de la Vara from the pen. The Travs would not record another hit for the rest of the game.

With a second four-run lead, RHP Rafael Rodriguez worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth when Morrissey started a double play backhanding a hard grounder by Valentin.

Rodriguez came back for the seventh inning and immediately allowed a single to Mike Stodolka. He was forced at second on a fielder's choice bouncer to short by Padilla, then a wild pitch moved Padilla to second base. Kaaihue advanced Padilla to third base with a single to right then Rodriguez threw his second wild pitch of the inning scoring Padilla and moving Kaaihue to second. The lead was cut to 7-5 on Gaffney's two-out single to left field.

Edwards got the Travs out of the seventh inning with a called third strike against Adam Donachie, but he could not retire a hitter in the eighth. Irving Falu started the rally with a ground ball to center field. Greenberg then dropped a bunt single between the mound and third base. Valentin hit a single to center scoring Falu and getting the Wranglers within one run. Edwards left the game after walking Stodolka to load the bases and O'Day relieved. Padilla gave Wichita its first lead of the night on O'Day's first pitch, which he lined into center for a two-run single. Two batters later Nettles hammered a 3-2 pitch out of the ballpark to left field for an 11-7 Wichita lead.

The time of game was 2:56 and the paid attendance was 871.

The third game of this four-game series is set for Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. The Travs go with RHP Nick Green (6-6, 4.34 ERA) while Wichita sends RHP Carlos Rosa (3-6, 5.14 ERA) to the hill.

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