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TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Kindel Sparks Tulsa 7-6 Over Travs

August 27, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


TULSA, OKLAHOMA - The Arkansas Travelers fell 7-6 to the Tulsa Drillers on Wednesday night after taking a 5-0 lead. Jeff Kindel had a hand in Tulsa's last three runs including a ninth-inning sacrifice fly that scored Rex Rundgren to provide the winning run. Wil Ortiz and Ryan Mount both had two extra-base hits and a pair of runs scored to lead the Travelers, while Hainley Statia added three hits and two RBI.

Tim Kiely was unable to hold a five-run lead lasting just 4.1 innings. On his 24th birthday, Kiely was charged with five runs (two earned) on seven base hits, one walk and a strikeout. Bobby Cassevah (L, 3-7) took the loss allowing Tulsa's ninth inning run without a base hit.

The Drillers magic number is lowered to 11 with Northwest Arkansas snapping a seven-game losing streak against Springfield. A combination of seven losses by the Travs and wins by the Drillers eliminates the Travelers from playoff contention.

A lightning quick two-out rally gave the Travs the lead in the second inning against Ching-Lung Lo. Ortiz hit a high fly ball that sent Mike Paulk back to the left-field fence. When he leapt for the ball it glanced off his glove and Ortiz made it to third base for a triple. Statia then hit a hard liner to left-center to drive in Ortiz, and when the throw from left field came in Statia slid in just ahead of the tag for a double. Ivan Contreras singled up the middle on the next pitch to give the Travs a 2-0 lead.

Once again the bottom of the order provided a spark as Mount, batting hit a leadoff double in the fourth inning. Ortiz followed with a shot off the fence in left-center to drive him in with a double. Statia looked to sacrifice Ortiz up one base when he bunted off the left side of the mound. Daniel Mayora hesitated before charging the ball, then whipped a wild throw past first base allowing Ortiz to score while Statia took second base. A groundout by Contreras and a sacrifice fly by Peter Bourjos scored Statia giving the Travs a 5-0 lead.

Kiely dominated the Drillers over four innings allowing just three base runners, but Statia misplayed Brad Corley's ground ball leading off the fifth inning for an error and Tulsa took advantage scoring five runs. After Dayton Buller's fly out, the next five batters reached base beginning with an infield single by Daniel Carte. Daniel Mayora singled through the left side to knock Corley home, then Rex Rundgren won a long battle with Kiely getting an RBI single to center field. The Drillers loaded the bases on a bloop single by Anthony Jackson then cut the deficit to 5-3 on an RBI single by Danny Sandoval. David Herndon replaced Kiely to face Paulk and induced a hard chopper to shortstop. Statia was able to get the force play at second, but Paulk beat the relay throw from Mount allowing Rundgren to cross the plate. Kindel then sent Statia deep into the hole with a hard grounder and he had no play at any base as Jackson crossed the plate on the infield single to tie the game.

Drillers pitching had retired 15 consecutive batters heading into the ninth inning. Lo set down the last six he faced before giving way to Andy Graham for three perfect innings.

Herndon remained on the mound for the sixth and seventh and kept the game tied heading into the eighth. Kindel hit a leadoff single then was bunted to second by Corley. After walking Buller on four pitches, Herndon was relieved by Cassevah who got Carte to hit a dribbler in front of the plate. Cassevah had only one play throwing to first base for the force out while Kindel and Buller advanced. While working to Mayora, Cassevah's 1-0 pitch glanced off Hank Conger's glove and the passed ball scored Kindel with Tulsa's go-ahead run.

The Travs weren't done yet as Andrew Johnston came in with a league-high 31 saves, but he blew his second consecutive chance against the Travs. Mount hit a leadoff double off the right-center wall then was bunted to third by Ortiz. Statia lined a single to left field knocking in the tying run. Johnston induced a comebacker from Contreras to get an inning-ending double play.

Time of game was 2:51 and the paid attendance numbered 7,093.

The third game of the series is set for Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Right hander Marco Albano (3-6, 3.66) will take the mound for the Travs against Tulsa lefty Keith Weiser (8-13, 5.25).

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