Sports stats



TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Cards Rally Back To Win On Final Day

September 7, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI - Saturday and Sunday at Hammons Field, the Arkansas Travelers bullpen dominated the Springfield Cardinals holding them scoreless over 8.1 innings. On Monday in the last game of the 2009 season, the Cards got a measure of revenge scoring runs in the eighth and ninth innings to come from behind for a 3-2 victory over the Travs. Pete Kozma knocked in Tyler Henley in the ninth inning for the winning run with a sacrifice fly after Jim Rapoport tied the game with an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Both teams were extremely aggressive at the plate over the first few innings with numerous batters putting the first pitch into play. The Travs grabbed an early lead off Nick Additon scoring in the first and third innings. Each time Mark Trumbo singled to score Coby Smith, but the Travs were robbed on a diving play in right field by Henley to end the first inning when he caught a sinking line drive from Wil Ortiz leaving two runners on base.

Additon finished eight innings and retired nine in a row at one point. He was charged with one earned run (two total) with one walk and three strikeouts in a no-decision. Additon found trouble in the seventh inning when Hainley Statia reached on an infield single. Peter Bourjos singled with one out moving Statia to second base. Smith followed with his third base hit, a high fly ball into right center-field that fell in. Statia and Bourjos held up at second base as Henley made a diving attempt to catch Smith's drive. As the ball fell Statia and Bourjos were three feet apart and rounded third base at the same time. Jim Rapoport fielded the ball off the warning track and threw towards the infield. Kozma cut the throw off and fired to the plate where Steven Hill tagged out both runners to end the inning.

Travs right hander Amalio Diaz also threw a solid seven innings in a no-decision. He held the Cardinals without a run over five innings before Joe Mather smacked a solo home run (3) in the sixth. Diaz handed the 2-1 lead to Bobby Cassevah for the eighth inning.

Cassevah allowed Daryl Jones a leadoff single, then hit Andrew Brown on a 2-2 pitch. With one out Rapoport put a 3-2 pitch into play with the runners in motion. The ball shot past Ortiz who went to cover third base as Jones scored the tying run.

Casey Mulligan (W, 3-0) worked a scoreless ninth inning, then Fernando Rodriguez (L, 3-1) came out for the bottom of the ninth. Henley put the winning run into scoring position doubling to right-center on the first pitch. Aaron Luna moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Mike Folli was walked intentionally bringing Kozma to the plate. Rodriguez got ahead 0-2, but Kozma hit a high fly ball to left field that was deep enough to score Henley with the winning run.

The Travs finished the regular season 61-79, while tying Springfield for third place in the second half at 33-37. The season series between the clubs also finished tied at 14-14.

Time of game was 1:57 and the paid attendance was 8,084.

The Arkansas Travelers would like to thank all our sponsors and fans for their support throughout the 2009 season. We look forward to the 2010 season in the fourth year at Dickey-Stephens Park.

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics



Texas League Stories from September 7, 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