Sports stats



TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Bianchi Blasts Travs With Walkoff

June 27, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS - Shortstop Jeff Bianchi capped a five-hit night with a two-out, walk-off home run giving the Northwest Arkansas Naturals a 4-3 victory in 10 innings over the Arkansas Travelers. Last night the Travs scored seven runs with two outs, but the Naturals reversed the trend on Saturday scoring all four of their runs on two outs. Bianchi, batting .559 in eight games since a call up from class-A, delivered a two-run double in the first inning, three singles and the walk-off shot off against Marco Albano (L, 1-2) in the tenth. Mark Trumbo and Coby Smith led the Travs 12-hit attack with three hits apiece, and Hank Conger finished 2-for-5 with a two-run triple in the ninth inning that forced extra innings.

Arkansas started left hander Trevor Reckling and he allowed just two runs over 6.1 innings on eight base hits, just one walk and four strikeouts. Northwest Arkansas starting pitcher Dan Cortes managed five shutout innings on five base hits and four walks and three strikeouts.

The Travs left 13 runners on base and finished the game 2-for-15 with a runner in scoring position. They left nine runners at second or third base in falling to 3-6 in extra innings.

Reckling had no trouble retiring the first two batters he faced, but the Naturals strung together three base hits to take the lead. Ed Lucas began the rally with a ground ball single to left field followed by an infield single by Corey Smith. Bianchi knocked both runners home with a double that floated into the gap in right-center.

Cortes got some help from his outfield in the fourth inning after the Travs put runners at the corners with no outs with a walk and a single. Nate Sutton hit a soft fly into right-center and Val Majewski tested CodyStrait's arm attempting to score. The throw from the right fielder was right on the money catching Majewski for a double play. The Travs got a single from Wil Ortiz right after, but Jay Caligiuri flied out to end the threat.

Left hander Ben Swaggerty replaced Cortes after five and delivered a perfect sixth inning but ran into trouble in the seventh as the Travs loaded the bases on a walk and bunt singles by Coby Smith and Peter Bourjos. The Travs managed only one run out of that situation as Hainley Statia grounded into a double play to score Jay Caligiuri. Swaggerty caught Hank Conger looking to end the inning with Northwest Arkansas leading 2-1.

The Naturals got that run back in the seventh inning and once again they collected three base hits with two outs to bring in the run. Jose Duarte singled and stole second base, then Jarrod Dyson beat a grounder to second base to move Duarte to third base. Kurt Mertins hit a high bouncer to Ortiz at third base and beat the throw allowing Duarte to score for a 3-1 Naturals lead.

After leaving 10 runners on base over the first eight innings, the Travs rallied back to tie the game in the ninth against right handed reliever Chris Nicoll getting a leadoff double from Smith and a walk to Peter Bourjos. They advanced when Statia laid down a sacrifice bunt and Conger whacked the next pitch into right-center for a game-tying triple. Majewski drew an intentional walk, but the second pitch to Trumbo bounced and he took a few steps towards second base. Cody Clark, inserted in the eighth inning as Vance Wilson's replacement, scooped the ball and picked Majewski off first base. Trumbo then walked and Carlos Sencion (W, 2-1) was summoned from the pen and he caught Nate Sutton looking for the third out.

In the top of the tenth inning, Smith singled with two outs and stole second base. Bourjos made the third out when Sencion caught him looking on strikes. Bourjos complained to plate umpire Dan Oliver that the pitch nicked his left elbow, but the call wasn't reverses and Travs manager Bobby Magallanes was ejected during the inning break by Oliver after arguing the call for a few minutes.

Albano pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out four consecutive hitters when Bianchi hit the third walk-off homer off the Travs in the 2009 season to split the first two games of this four game series.

Time of game was 3:20 and the paid attendance numbered 5,305.

The Travs and Naturals are scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch on Sunday afternoon. The Travelers plan on lefty Barret Browning (0-6, 4.08 ERA) pitching while the Naturals counter with right hander Anthony Lerew (4-4, 5.21).

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Texas League message board...

Texas League Stories from June 27, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Arkansas Travelers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central