TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Early Homers, Lack of Clutch Hitting Doom Travs

Published on August 29, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Springfield, MO - Two early home runs gave the Springfield Cardinals all they needed for a 3-1 victory over the Arkansas Travelers at Hammons Field on Sunday afternoon. Andrew Brown (21) and Aaron Luna (15) went deep back-to-back in the first inning to knock in all three Cardinals runs. Although the Travs outhit Springfield 9-to-7, the Travs grounded into three double play and struggled with the clutch base hit going 1-for-10 with a runner in scoring position.

With their fourth consecutive loss, the Travs fall to 27-35 in the second half (53-79 overall). Springfield clinches the season series against Arkansas (15-9 with four remaining games) and improves to 35-27 in the second half (73-59 overall).

Michael Anton (5-11) suffered his fourth loss in August serving up both home runs in the first inning. He issued a one-out walk to Pete Kozma then battled back to strike out Matt Carpenter. After getting ahead of Brown, Anton left a 1-2 pitch up and it was crushed out of the ballpark past left field for Brown's fourth home run of the last four games. Luna also fell behind to a 2-2 count and blasted a home run for a 3-0 Cards lead.

Anton completed 5.2 innings and allowed six hits, four walks and hit one batter while striking out six. He falls to 1-4 against Springfield.

David Kopp (12-4) allowed a single in each of the first three innings, but also induced a double play to end each frame. After a perfect fourth inning, Kopp found trouble in the fifth as the Travs loaded the bases with no outs. Roberto Lopez walked and Jeremy Moore singled. Then Moore beat a throw to second base on a fielder's choice by Charlton Jimerson. Kopp however retired Ryan Mount on a shallow fly ball to left field then struck out both Anel De Los Santos and Rian Kiniry to end the inning. Kiniry was ejected by plate umpire Dan Oliver after arguing a called third strike.

The Travs once again loaded the bases in the sixth inning, this time with one out, on consecutive singles by Abel Nieves, Efren Navarro and Lopez. Moore, who finished 3-for-4, struck out on three pitches for the second out. Jimerson then hit a rocket that deflected off Carpenter's glove at third base to shortstop Pete Kozma, and he threw Jimerson out at first base leaving three more runners.

Kopp gave way to the Cards bullpen after his six shutout innings with seven singles allowed adding one walk and four strikeouts.

Blake King was the first reliever and Mount greeted him with the Travs' only extra-base hit, a double, to lead off the seventh inning. Mount only made it to third base on a groundout by De Los Santos, as Jesus Campos and Andrew Romine struck out.

King was perfect in the eighth inning before Adam Reifer worked the ninth. Moore led off with his third single, then Jimerson grounded to shortstop. Moore attempted to reach third base on the play and scored due to a throwing error by Xavier Scruggs. Reifer (14) saved the game by getting Mount and De Los Santos to fly out.

Time of game was 2:48 and the paid attendance was 7,506.

The final of the three-game series is set for 7:10 in the evening on Monday. Ryan Brasier (7-10, 5.55) pitches for the Travelers while the Cards go with Brian Broderick (9-2, 3.08).

Be sure to tune into Sports Animal 920 am at 6:50 for all your Travs baseball coverage.

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from August 29, 2010


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