Homers from Johnson, Mount puts Arkansas over Naturals
Published on May 5, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
SPRINGDALE, ARK. - The Arkansas Travelers won a close one 5-4 in seven innings in the first game of a doubleheader with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Monday night. The Naturals missed too many opportunities, leaving 20 runners on base after outhitting the Travs, 13 to 12.
Tommy Mendoza (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, giving up two runs in five innings on nine hits. Mendoza walked one and struck out three on a cold, humid day at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
"He battled. What I liked about him was his competitiveness," Arkansas manager Bobby Magallanes said. "He did a good job of damage control, and that's the key to pitching - it's not necessarily giving up runs, it's just not putting up crooked numbers, which is what he did. He made pitches when he needed to."
A pair of sixth-inning home runs off the wall of the home bullpen behind right field proved to be the game winners. Designated hitter Ben Johnson (2) and second baseman Ryan Mount (3) both homered off Naturals' starter Anthony Lerew (1-1).
"Our guys did a good job of making adjustments off of Lerew there at the end," Magallanes said. "Usually the pitchers in this weather have the advantage, but I'm telling you the hitters have been outstanding from both sides."
The Travelers (11-11) picked up their first three runs playing small ball. Third baseman Nate Sutton hit the first of four consecutive two-out singles in the fourth inning from the middle of the batting order. Sutton and Hank Conger scored on bloop hits by Johnson and Mark Trumbo, respectively.
"When [Lerew] made a mistake, they got good hitters, and they hit it," Northwest Arkansas coach Brian Poldberg said. "It was the in-between plays. The first baseman has to dive, can't get back to his feet, and they just put the ball in the right spots."
The Naturals (10-12) got on the board first after Joe Dickerson doubled and scored on an RBI single in the first inning off the bat of ex-Traveler Corey Smith. Mario Lisson scored after walking in the third inning on a Jordan Parraz RBI single.
Northwest Arkansas scored two more in the sixth inning off Travs reliever Ryan Brasier to cut the margin to one. Second baseman Chris McDonnell knocked in catcher John Suomi, who led off the inning with a triple. McDonnell stole second (1), advanced to third on a flyout and scored on a triple by Dickerson. Traveler righthander David Herndon relieved Brasier with two outs and two on in the sixth and induced a flyout to second base from Parraz.
"What a great job by him. You've got the tying run at third base, the go-ahead run at first, and he comes in and gets the out. That sinker was working well," Magallanes said.
The Naturals threatened again in the last inning when Brian McFall singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Sutton. McFall moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, but Herndon got two groundouts with the tying run on third base again, earning his fifth save of the season.
"The guys made a good comeback," Poldberg said. "We had a good chance in the seventh but we couldn't get the big hit to tie the game...You always wish you had nine [innings], but then we wouldn't get another one to play after that."
GAME TWO
They were only scheduled to play seven innings in the second half of Monday night's doubleheader, but it took the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 13 innings to get their first win of the series, a 5-4 walkoff win at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Ex-Trav Corey Smith hit a walkoff single off Arkansas reliever Bryan Rembisz (1-2) in the bottom of the 13th inning to score Jose Duarte, ending the game more than four hours after first pitch.
Chris Hayes (3-0) was the winning pitcher for Northwest Arkansas, tossing six innings of three-hit ball to close out the game.
The Travelers (11-12) begin an 8-game homestand tomorrow, hosting the Tulsa Drillers at 7:10 p.m. at Dickey-Stephens Park. The Naturals (11-12) travel to Springfield, Mo., to face the Cardinals for a four-game set.
Texas League Stories from May 5, 2009
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- Hooks Hammer Hounds - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Rained Out Again - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals washed out in Springfield - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Rained Out Tuesday, Double-Header Wednesday! - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs Rained Out Again Tuesday - Arkansas Travelers
- Statia Activated For Tulsa Series - Arkansas Travelers
- Royals' southpaw reliever Bale to rehab with Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals and Travs split double header - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homers from Johnson, Mount puts Arkansas over Naturals - Arkansas Travelers
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