Eighth Inning Woes Continue In 4-2 Loss
April 23, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, AR - A two-run double by Tommy Duenas helped Tulsa rally in the eighth inning and the Drillers (8-9) held on for a 4-2 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (7-10). Down 2-1 in the eighth, the Drillers scored three runs on four hits and a walk to take the lead. 1B Aaron Rifkin recorded the game-tying base hit with a single off losing pitcher RHP Rafael Rodriguez (0-2). The Travs were held to three base hits by four Tulsa pitchers. RHP Jarrett Grube (2-0) got the win by stranding three runners in his one inning. Rodriguez was charged with a blown save and three runs on three hits in one inning. The Travs have been outscored by their opponents 16-3 in the eighth inning.
The Travs were sparked by a strong spot start by RHP Kyle Edens. He left the bases loaded in the second inning, but was touched for a run in the third. Tulsa RF Joe Gaetti, who finished 3-for-4 with three doubles, began the fourth with a double to center field. With one out, Gaetti advanced to third on a groundout. RHP Steven Shell was called in to replace Edens and he hit Rifkin with a fastball putting runners at first and third. 2B Duke Sardinha then hit a grounder to 3B Freddy Sandoval who attempted a force play at second base, but threw wild for a run-scoring error giving Tulsa a 1-0 lead.
Tulsa LHP Franklin Morales controlled the Travs over the first four innings, allowing just two walks and no hits. SS Sean Rodriguez hit a leadoff single in the fifth and advanced to second base when Duenas threw wild on a pickoff to first base. Sandoval moved Rodriguez to third with a sacrifice bunt and Morales responded by hitting Greg Porter to put runners at the corners. With Michael Collins batting, Porter ran for second base and Duenas threw wild again for an error that scored Rodriguez to tie the game while Porter advanced to third. With Tulsa's infield playing in, Collins beat a slow roller to deep short for a single that scored Porter for a 2-1 Travs lead.
Shell breezed through the fifth with three strikeouts and then left a Driller runner at second base in the sixth. Shell allowed a two-out single in the seventh inning and gave way to Rodriguez who induced Chris Frey to bounce out to end the inning.
After the Travs loaded the bases against Grube in the seventh on a double by Sandoval and two walks, CF Cody Fuller struck out to end the threat.
Tulsa's big inning started with a single by Jordan Czarniecki. After Rodriguez caught Gaetti looking, he got Matt Miller to roll to second base with Czarniecki forced at second base. 3B Christian Colonel followed with a single and Rifkin lined a single to right field scoring Miller with the tying run. On the throw home, Colonel took third and Rifkin ran to second base. RHP Jose Arredondo was summoned from the pen and he walked PH Tino Sanchez to load the bases. Then Duenas ripped a double down the left-field line bringing home two runs giving Tulsa a 4-2 lead.
RHP Juan Morillo pitched a scoreless eighth for Tulsa and RHP Steven Register struck out two in the ninth inning for the save (6).
Time of game was 3:06 and the paid attendance was 4,574.
The Travs and Drillers play the second game of this four-game series Tuesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. Arkansas sends RHP Nick Adenhart (3-0, 0.49 ERA) to the hill against Tulsa RHP Ryan Mattheus (0-1, 6.60 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. and the gates open at 6:10 p.m.
Texas League Stories from April 23, 2007
- Eighth Inning Woes Continue In 4-2 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
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- Cards Fall Monday - Springfield Cardinals
- Duenas Drops Travs - Arkansas Travelers
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