Hounds Wrap Up Sweep Of Travs Saturday
Published on April 11, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
MIDLAND, TEXAS - Midland first baseman Steve Kleen smacked two home runs (2), but for the second night in a row it was centerfielder Matt Sulentic who came up with the game-winning base hit as the RockHounds (3-0) finished a sweep of the Arkansas Travelers (0-3) with a 6-5 victory Saturday night at Citibank Ballpark. Sulentic finished the series with two base hits, both game-winners. Saturday he broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning knocking in Jamile Weeks with a single off left hander Barrett Browning (L, 0-1).
The Travs showed feistiness coming from four runs down in the second inning to tie the game, but they were never able to take the lead. Once the RockHounds bullpen entered the game, they quieted the Travs offense retiring 14 of 15 to end the game including the last 11 hitters. Right hander Jason Ray (1-0) earned the win with two shutout innings followed by two perfect frames from righty Mickey Storey for the save (1).
Arkansas batters collected 10 base hits including two each from shortstop Andrew Romine, left fielder Carlos Colmenares and catcher Alberto Rosario. Third baseman Jay Brossman and right fielder Juan Perez led the club with two RBI apiece.
Travs starting pitcher Jeremy Thorne retired the first four Midland batters but struggled mightily in the second inning allowing four runs on two hits, two hit batters, a walk and a wild pitch. Kleen's first home run, a three-run shot down the left field line, gave the RockHounds the lead. Yusuf Carter then singled and swiped second base before a wild pitch moved him to third. Weeks's RBI groundout brought Carter to the plate for a 4-0 Midland lead.
The Travs got to A's 2009 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Pedro Figueroa in the fourth to tie the game. Rosario started the rally with a single past first base, and a one-out bunt single by Andrew Romine moved Rosario up to second. Colmenares jumped on Figueroa's next pitch for an RBI double to left-center, and Brossman cut the deficit to 4-3 with a hard two-run single to center. The game-tying hit was a line drive double from Perez with two outs, but Figueroa induced Abel Nieves to bounce to first base to end the inning with a 4-4 score.
Once again Kleen propelled the RockHounds to the lead, this time with a one-out solo homer on a 2-0 pitch from Thorne in the fourth inning.
The Travs answered with singles from Colmenares and Paul McAnulty, while a passed ball from Carter and an RBI groundout by Perez tied the game again, at 5-5.
Thorne got into trouble again when he plunked Weeks to begin the fifth, his third hit batter of the night. Weeks, though, was caught stealing when Thorne pitched out and Rosario threw a laser to second base. Browning relieved Thorne after a Shane Peterson infield single and a walk to Anthony Recker. Midland third baseman Alex Valdez flied to left field to end the inning.
After a shutout sixth inning, Browning came back for the seventh and Weeks jumped on a 2-2 pitch lining a triple to right-center. Sulentic followed with his game-winning hit, with a single to left field giving Midland the 6-5 lead.
Time of game was 3:02 and the paid attendance was 5,404.
The Travs wrap up the three-game series in Midland on Saturday night sending left hander Michael Anton (3-8, 5.07 ERA at Arkansas). Frisco lefty Kasey Kiker (7-7, 3.86 ERA at Frisco in 2009). First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. Listen to the Travs broadcast on Sports Animal 920 AM with the Coca-Cola Pre Game Show beginning at 3:40 p.m.
Texas League Stories from April 11, 2010
- Travs Earn First Win 4-1 Sunday - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards Outlast RockHounds 3-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Osuna Leads Naturals Past Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Get Their First Win At ONEOK - Tulsa Drillers
- Balanced Attack Downs Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Series Preview: Naturals Look To Cool Off Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hounds Wrap Up Sweep Of Travs Saturday - Arkansas Travelers
- Pina, Mertins come up big in win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cards Hammer Frisco, 8-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Go Extra Mile in Triumph - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Clemens Leads Drillers Past Hooks - Tulsa Drillers
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