Drillers Defeat Travs in Another Shutout
Published on July 31, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock - The Travs were involved in another shutout, this time a 2-0 loss to the Tulsa Drillers on Sunday, July 31, at Dickey-Stephens Park. An announced crowd of 3,672 saw the Travs' third consecutive shutout. The Travs shut out the Drillers 4-0 on Saturday and the Drillers shut the Travs out 4-0 on Friday.
The Travs (16-20) have been involved in a professional baseball-leading 23 shutouts, including the major leagues and all of the minors. They have thrown 12 shutouts and now have been shut out 11 times.
When third baseman Jon Townsend exited the game in the middle of his at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning due to a hand injury, the Drillers took advantage of a one-out error by new third baseman Gabe Jacobo in the top of the eighth inning to score two unearned runs. Jacobo fielded Erik Wetzel's grounder, but Chris Pettit, who moved from left field to first base because of Townsend's injury, couldn't handle Jacobo's one-bouncer.
Relief pitcher Christian Scholl walked lead-off man Tim Wheeler and Wheeler and Wetzel were successful in a double steal to put runners at second and third with one out. Scholl struck out Hector Gomez for the second out, but first baseman Ben Paulsen scored both runs with a double to right field to put the Drillers up 2-0.
Travs' starter righty Orangel Arenas (8-5, 3.99) pitched seven scoreless innings despite the loss. He gave up four hits and a walk, while striking out two. Scholl (1-3, 2.32) was saddled with the loss giving up the two unearned runs on one hit and a walk while striking out two.
The Travs put runners at first and third with no outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but were unable to score. Jacobo led the inning off with a single to right field and advanced to third on Roberto Lopez' bloop single into short left field. Catcher Orlando Mercado hit a hard grounder up the middle that hit Drillers' starter Josh Sullivan. Sullivan regrouped and threw Jacobo out a home for a fielder's choice. Angel Castillo popped out to the second baseman for the second out and Darwin Perez flew out to left field to end the inning.
Sullivan, a Little Rock native, pitched five scoreless innings for a no-decision. He gave up five hits and a walk, striking out one. Stephen Dodson (8-1, 3.56) pitched three innings of relief for the win, giving up one hit and striking out four without a walk. Daniel Turpen picked up his ninth save of the year striking out two in the bottom of the ninth.
The Drillers (18-18) had a chance to score when Arenas got two quick outs in the top of the fourth inning and gave up a single to left field by right fielder Bronson Sardinha. Second baseman Thomas Field took Arenas' first pitch to the left-field corner for a double. Sardinha looked as if he was going to stop at third base, but he was waved home where he was thrown out by shortstop Darwin Perez who cut off Chris Pettit's throw from left.
The Travs outhit the Drillers 7 to 5, but were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and committed three errors. The Travs left seven men on base and the Drillers left eight men on batting 1 for 8 with RISP in a three hour seven minute game.
Lopez went 2 for 4 for the Travs and Townsend was 2 for 2 before leaving with his injury. Paulsen went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Drillers.
The Travs continue their four-game series with the Drillers when they play the third game on Monday, August 1, at Dickey Stephens Park. Righty Eddie McKiernan (4-10, 6.08) will start for the Travs, while righty Rob Scahill (8-8, 4.28) starts for the Drillers.
McKiernan picked up his third consecutive loss his last outing against the Springfield Cardinals. He gave up six runs on eight hits in three and one-third innings, striking out one with a walk. Scahill picked up a loss against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals his last time out on July 27. He gave up six runs (three earned) on a season-high 10 hits in seven innings. He struck out three and walked four. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 and gates open at 6:10.
Texas League Stories from July 31, 2011
- Drillers Shut out Travs 2-0 - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Defeat Travs in Another Shutout - Arkansas Travelers
- Dwyer, Romak Help Naturals Roll Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Fall to Naturals 9-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Bullpen Carries 'Riders to Win in San Antonio - Frisco RoughRiders
- Game Notes, July 31 - Corpus Christi at Midland - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Pina Gets Call to Kansas City - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Richards Stops Drillers Again - Tulsa Drillers
- 'Riders Fall 11-5, Missions Solely in First - Frisco RoughRiders
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