Arkansas takes two of three from Hounds
Published on June 4, 2006 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Ray Winder Field, Little Rock, AR - Aaron Peel (4) delivered a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the Arkansas Travelers (19-37) to an 8-7 victory over the Midland RockHounds (31-26). Even though Peel was the hero, the true star of the game was Midland 1B Brant Colamarino who dramatically tied the game with a two-out home run (6) in the ninth inning to complete the Texas League's second cycle of the season.
After the Travelers took a 7-3 lead on a two-run homer by Jason Aspito (10) in the sixth inning, Midland rallied back over the next four innings to tie the game on three home runs, two coming in the ninth inning to tie the game. Arkansas was led by Eric Rodland and Brandon Wood, who each collected three base hits. Wood totaled two singles, his league-leading 21st double, two RBI and a run scored. Rodland doubled twice and scored three runs, while Aspito finished 2-for-4 with his eighth home run at home and two runs scored. RHP Kyle Edens (1-0) was charged with a blown save, pitched three innings and allowed two runs for the win. Midland RHP Jared Burton went 1.1 innings giving up Peel's homer for the loss. The Travs won the first-half series against Midland 4-3.
The game was a see-saw battle from the start as each team tallied a run in the first inning. Midland SS Ronnie Merrill began the game with a double and scored when Vasili Spanos singled to right-center.
Rodland hit a one-out double off RHP Brad Knox and scored when Wood lined a single to right field to tie the game at 1-1.
Rodland began the third inning with a double off the right-field wall and barreled over Midland C Kurt Suzuki after another single by Wood for a 2-1 Travs lead.
Matt Allegra tied the game, at 2-2, with a leadoff home run off Arkansas starter LHP Daniel Davidson.
After the RockHounds scored with the bases loaded on a wild pitch from Davidson, Rodland led off the fifth with a single to right field and Wood followed with a high shot to center that sent Allegra back to the fence. After getting turned around, Allegra almost caught the drive, but it glanced off his glove allowing Rodland to scamper into third while Wood stopped at second with a double. Both runners scored when Matt Brown smacked a double to the left-field corner for a 5-3 Arkansas lead. Knox left the game after getting two outs and RHP Jeff Muessig relieved. Aspito greeted Muessig with a two-run home run to right field for the 7-3 lead.
Muessig then set down seven straight batters while Midland started a comeback in the top of the sixth inning.
Colamarino, who doubled in the second and singled in the fourth, began the sixth inning with a drive off the right-field wall. Aspito leapt at the fence and fell at the warning track while Colamarino dove into third base for a triple. Brian Snyder then powered a two-run homer to right bringing Midland within 7-5.
Edens relieved Davidson for the seventh inning and allowed a one-out single to Allegra. However he caught Brian Stavisky looking and Travs C Bobby Wilson pegged Allegra attempting to steal second base for an inning-ending double play.
Midland loaded the bases against Edens in the eighth with two singles and a walk, but he got Travis Buck to fly to left to leave three men on base.
Spanos brought Midland within a run by leading off the ninth inning with a home run to left field (8). After Edens struck out Allegra and got Stavisky to fly to left, Colamarino smacked a long home run over the Screen Monster and onto the Mills Freeway past right field for the game tying home run.
Arkansas CF Devin Day came close to a leadoff home run in the ninth, but flied out to the right-center warning track. Peel followed by ripping Burton's 0-1 pitch over the left-field corner for the winning home run.
NOTES: Peel's walk-off homer is the Travs' second of the season along with Greg Porter...Colamarino is the second RockHounds player to hit for the cycle in 2006 along with Jason Perry who hit a walk-off home run on April 16 against Corpus Christi to complete the cycle...The Travs' two-game winning streak is their sixth of the year and they have not won three straight games yet...
To view the boxscore, please click here.
Arkansas has Monday off before beginning a nine-game road trip on Tuesday at Tulsa. Beginning the four-game series for the Travs on the mound will be RHP Rafael Rodriguez (1-4, 8.78 ERA) with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 4, 2006
- Drillers pound Hooks - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers sweep Hooks again - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders rally for 4-3 win - Springfield Cardinals
- Arkansas takes two of three from Hounds - Arkansas Travelers
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