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TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Diaz & Travs Knock Tulsa Into Tie For First

August 28, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


TULSA, OKLAHOMA - In their final visit to Drillers Stadium, the Arkansas Travelers knocked the Drillers into a tie for first place with a 4-1 victory. Amalio Diaz (W, 3-6) threw six effective innings in a spot start to earn the win, and defeated the front runner for Texas League Pitcher of the Year Samuel Deduno (L, 12-4) in the process. Diaz and two relievers combined to hold the Drillers to just two base hits as the Travs won three in the four-game series to pull within 4.5 games of first place.

Diaz earned his first win as a starter and gave up just one run on two base hits. He walked one, struck out three and retired the last eight Drillers batters he faced. Fernando Rodriguez (Sv, 3) struck out five batters over 2.2 innings with no base hits to record the save that knocked Tulsa into a tie with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at the top of the Texas League North.

Deduno lost for the second consecutive start, but allowed just two runs over six innings although he walked seven and threw three wild pitches. It was the first time the Travs defeated Deduno in five tries, although his ERA went up just 0.01 to 2.69, 21 points lower than Travs lefty Trevor Reckling for the Texas League ERA lead.

The Travs scored two runs on wild pitches and got RBIs from Ryan Mount and Mark Trumbo.

Hank Conger began the second inning with a single followed by a Mount single to left. Wil Ortiz moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, but Deduno struck out Brian Walker for the second out. While working to Coby Smith, Deduno threw a slider that bounced away from Mike McKenry for a wild pitch that scored Conger giving the Travs a 1-0 lead.

Tulsa took advantage of a bout of wildness from Diaz to tie the game in the fourth inning. Mike Paulk singled with one out and took second base on a wild pickoff throw from the mound. After a walk that put Jeff Kindel on base, Diaz threw a wild pitch moving the runners up to second and third. Then Mike McKenry bounced out to second base to knock in the tying run.

More command problems for Deduno helped the Travs in the fifth inning as Nate Sutton drew a one-out walk and stole second base. A groundout by Trumbo moved Sutton to third and he scored when Deduno misfired to Conger for his third wild pitch giving the Travs a 2-1 lead.

Tulsa right hander Alberto Alburquerque relieved for the seventh and issued a leadoff walk to Peter Bourjos, who stole second base and later came home on Trumbo's 32nd double. A two-out single by Mount scored Trumbo for a 4-1 Travs lead.

Ryan Aldridge appeared for the seventh inning, but left in favor of Rodriguez after issuing two walks in 0.1 innings. A fielding error by Wil Ortiz at third base, his second of the night, allowed the Drillers to load the bases. Rodriguez left three runners and held the lead by striking out Danny Sandoval on a 3-2 pitch.

Tulsa again had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning thanks to a walk and a two-out throwing error by Conger. But Rodriguez induced Daniel Carte into a weak groundout to end the game.

The Travs took seven of the last nine games against the Drillers, but still lost the season series 18-14. Tonight was the 446th and last meeting between the Travs and Drillers at Drillers Stadium, more than any other two franchises at the current home of the Tulsa Texas League franchise. The park will close after the 2009 season as the Drillers move to ONEOK Field in downtown Tulsa for 2010.

Time of game was 2:52 and the paid attendance numbered 5,110.

The Travs head home to begin a four-game series with the Springfield Cardinals with a doubleheader on Saturday night. The Travs have left hander Trevor Reckling (8-6, 2.90) making his final appearance for the 2009 season during the opener. Mike Anton (2-8, 5.48) is scheduled to come off the disabled list to pitch the night cap. Springfield counters with right hander Trey Hearne (10-3, 3.20) in game one and no pitcher has been announced by the Cards for game two.

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