Blackford Dazzles, Travs Capitalize on Errors
April 23, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Arkansas Travelers Pitcher Alex Blackford
(Arkansas Travelers, Credit: Mark Wagner)
North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers won their fourth straight game on Friday night with a 3-1 victory over the Springfield Cardinals at Dickey-Stephens Park.
RHP Alex Blackford (W, 2-0) lowered his season ERA to 0.57 with 5.2 more scoreless innings on Friday. The righty walked back-to-back batters in the first and then retired 16 of the next 17 Cardinals, including his last 11 straight opponents to end his evening. Blackford struck a season-high eight batters.
Arkansas capitalized on a pair of Cardinals fielding errors and scored three unearned runs. In the third, a SS Breyvic Valera throwing error extended the inning and put runners on second and third for 3B Alex Yarbrough. Yarbrough, after fouling off multiple two-strike pitches, lined a two-run single to right to put Arkansas up 2-0.
After Springfield plated a run in the seventh, the Travs then countered with a run in the eighth, again after a C Carson Kelly throwing error and Yarbrough RBI single.
Cardinals starter RHP Andrew Morales (L, 2-1) was stellar and took the hard-luck loss. Morales worked seven innings and allowed two runs (none earned) on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts. He retired 12 in a row to end his evening.
Travs CF Chad Hinshaw finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
RHP Geoff Broussard (H, 2) worked a 1-2-3 eighth with two strikeouts and RHP Austin Wood (S, 2) notched the save with a scoreless ninth.
With the win, Arkansas improved to 7-7 on the season and is now tied atop the Texas League North division with Springfield. The two teams will play game three of the four game set on Saturday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
Images from this story
 Arkansas Travelers Pitcher Alex Blackford (Mark Wagner) |
Texas League Stories from April 23, 2016
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- Torres Puts Away Midland with First Career Grand Slam - San Antonio Missions
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- Drillers Drop Fourth Straight Despite 14 Hits - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. at Corpus Christi Hooks - April 23, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- A Big League Kind of Town - Midland RockHounds
- Blackford Dazzles, Travs Capitalize on Errors - Arkansas Travelers
- Explosive Start Carries Riders to Second Straight Win - Frisco RoughRiders
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