Fischer Finds Way, Travs Win 7-3
June 14, 2004 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Dell Diamond, Round Rock, TX - Arkansas RHP Rich Fischer (3-7) tossed four effective innings out of the bullpen for his first win in two months to lead the Travelers (31-32) to a 7-3 victory over the Round Rock Express (42-22). Fischer followed Mark O'Sullivan and retired 11 of 12 batters before the eighth inning. Fischer allowed just one run on two hits and two walks and one strikeout. O'Sullivan, who started because of a hole in the starting rotation due to last Thursday's doubleheader, retired six of the first seven Express batters while the Travs built a 3-0 lead. RF Nick Gorneault and DH Jeff Mathis each had two hits and an RBI with Mathis connecting on a solo home run (9). With the other East Division teams losing, the Travs now stand two games out of first place with six games left in the first half.
Round Rock starting pitcher RHP Tim McClasky (3-2) gave up a single to SS Alberto Callaspo on the first pitch of the game. CF Tommy Murphy then doubled past first base to score Callaspo for a 1-0 lead. Murphy stole third base and scored on a single by Gorneault. Mathis hit a solo home run with two outs for a 3-0 lead.
Leading off the bottom of the third inning, Round Rock C Hector Giminez doubled followed by a two-run homer by Jon Topolski to cut into the Travs lead to 3-2.
McClasky walked Mike Eylward to start the fifth inning and C Brent Del Chiaro doubled him to third base. LF Carlos Duncan followed with a sharp grounder between 3B David Matranga's legs for a run-scoring error and a 4-2 lead.
The Travs scored three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning thanks to two errors by 2B Ivanon Coffie. Gorneault and Mathis singled, then with one out 2B Rudy Gomez hit a double-play grounder to shortstop, but Coffie dropped the shuffle-throw to allow Gorneault to score from second base. McClasky walked Eylward and the Express brought in LHP Phillip Barzilla. Del Chiaro hit another grounder to short and the Express got the force out at second base, but Eylward slid hard into Coffie forcing the ball away from him to bring both Mathis and Gomez home for a 7-2 lead.
Fischer began to tire in the eighth inning allowing an infield single to Charlton Jimerson and a walk. Fischer got one out before RHP Cam Esslinger came out of the bullpen. Esslinger gave up an RBI single to Todd Self, but got the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Esslinger retired the side in the ninth without a run, but received no save.
The game was played in 2:51 and the paid attendance was 9,228.
The Travs and Express play the third game of the series Monday night with LHP Willie Collazo (1-4, 5.00 ERA) taking the mound for the Travs. Round Rock RHP D.J. Houlton (4-3, 3.88 ERA) will throw the first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
Please call (501) 664-1555 or visit www.travs.com for game information.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2004
- Texas League News - TL1
- Fischer Finds Way, Travs Win 7-3 - Arkansas Travelers
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