Duenas Drops Travs
April 23, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Tulsa catcher Tommy Duenas spent most of the first five years of his professional career in the Los Angeles Angels' farm system. Monday night, Duenas helped the Drillers defeat several of his old teammates. His two-out, two-run double in the top of the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie and sent the Drillers to a 4-2 victory over the Arkansas Travelers, the Double A affiliate of the Angels.
The game was played at Dickey-Stephens Stadium in North Little Rock. It was the first-ever game in the new stadium for the Drillers.
Tulsa trailed 2-1 before rallying in the eighth. Jordan Czarniecki began the inning with a single to center, but Rafael Rodriguez retired the next two hitters. Consecutive singles by Christian Colonel and Aaron Rifkin loaded the bases and forced Arkansas manager Bobby Magallanes to call to his bullpen for Jose Arredonda. Arredondo walked pinch-hitter Sanchez to force in a run to tie the game. It was the first at-bat of the year for Sanchez.
Duenas then broke the tie with a double into the left field corner that plated both Colonel and Rifkin. It was only the second and third runs batted in this season for the Tulsa catcher.
Juan Morillo and Steven Register made sure the lead held. Morillo worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and Register pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record his sixth save in six opportunities.
The Drillers scored first in the game as Joe Gaetti led off the fourth with one of his three double in the game, then scored on an error by Travs third baseman Freddy Sandoval.
Tulsa starting pitcher Franklin Morales carried a shutout into the fifth inning. Sean Rodriguez led off the Travs' fifth with a base hit, moved to second on an errant pickoff throw by Duenas and then to third on a sacrifice bunt. After Greg Porter was hit by a pitch, the Travs executed a double steal with Rodriguez swiping home to tie the game. Michael Collins followed with a base hit to score Porter and give Arkansas a lead that would last until Duenas' big hit in the eighth.
Reliever Jarrett Grube (2-0) collected the win for the Drillers by working a scoreless seventh inning. Rodriguez (0-2) suffered the loss for the Travs.
Morales worked the first six innings for Tulsa, allowing only two runs (1 ER) on only two hits. He walked two and struck out six.
The Drillers will continue their four-game series Tuesday night in Little Rock. Ryan Mattheus (0-1, 6.60 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa, while Arkansas will counter with Nick Adenhart (3-0, 0.49 ERA). Adenhart leads the Texas League in wins and ERA. Starting time is scheduled for 7:10PM.
Texas League Stories from April 23, 2007
- Eighth Inning Woes Continue In 4-2 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- RockHounds nip Hooks 4-3 - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards Fall Monday - Springfield Cardinals
- Duenas Drops Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Texas League update - TL1
- Hudson Makes Second Start - Wichita Wranglers
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