Gonzo Breaks Tie, Sends Travs to Victory
Published on June 29, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
MIDLAND, Tex - Maikol Gonzalez broke a tie score in the seventh inning with a two-run single to propel the Arkansas Travelers to a 3-1 victory over the Midland RockHounds on Sunday evening at Security Bank Ballpark. He drove in Adam Melker and Eric Stamets who had hit singles to begin the inning, then watched as the combination of R.J. Alvarez and Jairo Diaz closed the game saving the third straight win for Michael Roth (7-4)
Roth completed six innings on 102 pitches and won his fifth consecutive start on the road. With just one run allowed, Roth fired his eighth straight start of at least six innings with three runs or less allowed.
Currently on a four-game winning streak, their longest since May 3-6, the Travs record stands at 7-4 in the second half and 41-40 on the full season.
Both teams scored their first run on a leadoff homer on the first pitch of their respective halves of the fourth inning. Michael Bianucci (2) blasted Nate Long's first pitch for a dinger. Jefry Marte (5) homered on Roth's first pitch of the fourth to tie the game for the RockHounds.
Roth lost command briefly with two outs in the fourth inning with two walks sandwiching an infield single. However he struck out Addison Russell to end the inning then retired the side in order with two more strikeouts in the fifth. Roth set a season-high with six strikeouts on Sunday.
Long held the Travs to one run in six innings, but Melker opened the seventh with a bad-hop single that bounced high off Dusty Coleman's glove at shortstop. Stamets laid down a bunt that Long was slow to recover allowing Stamets reach safely. Kyle Hudson's sacrifice moved the runners to second and third and forced the Hounds infield to play in with Gonzalez batting. He lined the second pitch to right field for a single driving in two runs.
Alvarez entered the seventh inning and retired three of four batters, stranding Nakajima when Max Muncy flied out.
Diaz came in for the eighth inning and overpowered his first two batters for a pair of strikeouts on six pitches. Dusty Coleman grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Attempting for a two-inning save, Diaz allowed a double to Blake Forsythe and a single by Conner Crumbliss with one out bringing the tying run to the plate. Diaz though got Nakajima to ground into a double play to end the game.
Time of game was 2:44 and the paid attendance was 3,226.
With a chance to sweep the RockHounds on Monday night, the Travs send Nate Smith (3-1, 3.63) to the hill against Midland's Drew Granier (4-3, 3.29). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 29, 2014
- Adams Does It All It Naturals Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Humphries Downs Hooks in 13 - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Gonzo Breaks Tie, Sends Travs to Victory - Arkansas Travelers
- Adams Carries Naturals to 6-5 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Win Again in Extra-Innings - Tulsa Drillers
- Frisco RoughRiders Game Notes - Frisco RoughRiders
- San Antonio Missions Game Notes: June 29 at Springfield (6:10 PM CST) - San Antonio Missions
- Jett Bandy Seals Hounds Fate - Midland RockHounds
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