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TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Kendrick's Four Hits Leads Travs To 10-7 Win

July 20, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Ray Winder Field, Little Rock, AR - Howie Kendrick made his Little Rock debut with a 4-for-5 effort leading the Arkansas Travelers (12-13, 46-49) to a 10-7 victory over the Tulsa Drillers (11-14, 54-41). Kendrick had three singles and a two-run homer (1) to head up a 15-hit attack. Jason Aspito and SS Erick Aybar also had three base hits each with Aspito knocking in three runs and Aybar scoring three runs. Kendrick was the main attraction however as he and Mike Napoli (league leading 18th) hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. Kendrick, who had singles in his last two at bats in Corpus Christi on Sunday, had hits in his first four at bats on Tuesday. Greg Porter doubled twice with an RBI and a run scored. The Travs have pulled out wins in four of their last five games.

RHP Kasey Olenberger (4-5) earned the win with five innings of work. He fell behind in the first inning however with two outs. Judd Thigpen singled and went to second base on a walk. Corey Slavik sent a flare into center field for an RBI single to give the Drillers a 1-0 lead.

A five-run first inning against Tulsa RHP Ubaldo Jiminez (1-2) put the Travs ahead for good. The Travs loaded the bases after an out on singles by Aybar and Kendrick and a walk to Napoli. Jiminez then walked Tommy Murphy to force in the tying run. Kendrick scored when Kendry Morales hit a pop up that fell into left field with Napoli getting forced out at third base. Porter followed with a double to the right-field corner plating Murphy. Aspito capped the inning with a ground ball single to right field to score two runs for a 5-1 lead.

The Drillers scratched out an unearned run in the second inning and Tony Miller hit a one-out solo home run (11) in the fourth to get Tulsa within 5-3.

With one out in the fourth, Aybar singled to center followed by Kendrick's first Class AA home run, a two-run shot to left field on a 2-2 count. Napoli then blasted a 1-1 pitch to center for the Travs fourth back-to-back homers on the year and a 8-3 Travs lead.

Tulsa RHP Ben Crockett tossed a shutout fifth inning, but Aybar doubled in the sixth inning with one out and advanced to third base on an infield single by Kendrick. Murphy knocked in his second run of the game with a single to center after forcing Crockett to throw eight pitches.

Tulsa got back into the game against the Travs bullpen in the seventh inning. After RHP Aaron Pullin tossed a perfect sixth inning, the Drillers got a leadoff single by Miller in the seventh followed by a walk. Luis Guance chased Pullin with an RBI single inside third base to cut the Travs lead to 9-3. RHP Matt Wilhite relieved, but allowed a three-run homer to Sean Barker to bring Tulsa within 9-7.

The Travs pulled out the last run of the game in the seventh inning off Tulsa RHP Yusuke Arakawa. Porter began the inning with a double and scored when Aspito singled to center field.

RHP Alex Serrano tossed a perfect ninth inning against his former team for his sixth save.

Time of game was 2:50 and the paid attendance was 2,680.

The second game of the five-game series will be played on Wednesday night. The Travs plan on LHP Daniel Davidson (8-4, 4.49 ERA) pitching against Tulsa RHP Enmannuel Ulloa (4-2, 2.75 ERA). First pitch should be thrown at 7:10 p.m. and the gates open at 6:10 p.m.

Please call (501) 664-1555 or visit www.travs.com for game information.

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