TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Cards Fend off Travs' Comeback Bid

June 22, 2013 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Springfield, Mo.- Friday night at Hammons Field the Arkansas Travelers erased an early three run deficit, and took the lead 4-3 in the sixth inning, but ultimately fell to the Springfield Cardinals, 5-4. Luis Montanez guided the Travs comeback effort by going 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Montanez has now driven in seven runs on six hits in two games with the Travs.

Arkansas RH Matt Oye started against Springfield for the third time this season. Early in the game Oye fell victim to the long ball. Springfield ambushed Oye for two solo home runs in the first inning. James Ramsey led off by going yard to left for his sixth long ball off the season. Three batters later Chris Swauger deposited a fly ball over the wall in right for his seventh homer of the season.

Oye again allowed a lead off home run in the second inning when Cody Stanley hit his second home run of the season. However, Oye settled down after allowing his third homer to the first six batters he faced. Oye retired thirteen of the next fourteen Cardinals he faced, and allowed the Travs to climb back into the game, and that's exactly what they did.

Arkansas started the third inning with singles by Rolando Gomez and Travis Witherspoon against Springfield LH Tim Cooney. Cooney forced Jett Bandy to pop out, but Witherspoon proceeded to steal second to place runners at second and third. After Randal Grichuk flew out for the second out, Taylor Lindsey walked to clog the bases. That brought the red hot Luis Montanez to the plate. Cooney allowed a run to score on a wild pitch, before Montanez lined an offering from Cooney towards center to bring in two more runs and tie the game.

The game remained tied as the Travs came up in the sixth inning. After Grichuk singled to begin the frame, it was once again Montanez who came through with an RBI-double. The hit put the Travs up 4-3, and gave them their first lead of the night.

However, the Travs missed out on an opportunity to extend the advantage. After the Montanez double, C.J. Cron singled to again put runners on the corners. That brought Kaleb Cowart to the plate, and with two strikes Cron took off for second. Cowart swung and missed, and on the play Cron was caught stealing to end the inning.

Matt Oye's came back out to pitch the sixth, and found trouble after Ruben Gotay singled with one out. While facing Swauger, Oye uncorked a wild pitch that moved Gotay into scoring position. Swauger capitalized on the opportunity and singled into center to score Gotay, and knot the game at four.

Arkansas went without incident in the seventh or eighth inning, but strung a couple of hits together with two outs in the ninth inning. Jimmy Swift singled against Heath Wyatt to prolong the inning, and Gomez followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners. With Travis Witherspoon batting, Gomez swiped second, but Witherspoon later flew out to right field to end the threat.

Kevin Johnson entered in the ninth inning for the Travs, relieving Elvin Ramirez after two perfect innings on the mound. Johnson allowed a bloop double to Ruben Gotay to end the inning, but on a grounder to second by Swauger, Taylor Lindsey fired to third and erased Gotay on a 4-5 fielders choice.

Springfield skipper Mike Shildt heavily contested the play, and third base umpire Ramon Hernandez ejected Shildt from the contest.

With Swauger at first and one out Johnson fired a wild pitch while facing Xavier Scruggs. Arkansas elected to put the force back into play, and intentionally walked Scruggs. That brought Cody Stanley to the plate with runners at first and second with one out. Stanley lined the offering from Johnson off the glove of second baseman Taylor Lindsey into shallow right, and on the play Swauger scored to give the Cards the 5-4 walk-off win.

Rolando Gomez recorded three hits in the loss for the Travs.

Johnson was saddled with the loss, and fell to 2-3. Heath Wyatt delivered 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first win.

Arkansas and Springfield continue their rivalry Saturday night at Hammons Field beginning at 6:09 p.m. Arkansas sends lefty Michael Roth to the mound against Springfield RH Seth Blair. Coverage of the game begins with the Travs Dugout Show at 5:45 on Sports Animal 920.

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