Late Error Drops Travs Monday Night
Published on August 26, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Hammons Field, Springfield, Missouri - For the second straight night the Travs made up a five-run deficit only to lose at Springfield 6-5. Corey Smith homered (24) and was 2-for-4 in his return to the lineup. Brian Stavisky added two base hits including the game-tying homer (16) in the sixth inning. Springfield scored an unearned run in the eighth inning to score the winning run and Luke Gregerson (7-6) earned the victory striking out four in two perfect innings.
In being swept at Springfield, the Travs dropped their last three road games of the season to finish 28-43 away from Dickey-Stephens Park.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the third inning against Daniel Davidson. Designated hitter Andrew Brown hit a three-run homer (12) in the first and Brett Wallace drove in two with a third-inning double. Davidson kept Springfield off the board in his last three innings and finished six with five runs allowed on four hits and six strikeouts.
Springfield righty Adam Ottavino allowed singles by Ryan Leahy and Smith in the first inning then retired seven consecutive hitters. Stavisky began the third inning with a single, then Smith ripped a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall cutting Springfield's lead to 5-2.
Jordan Czarniecki singled with one out in the fifth inning and moved to second on Leahy's second single of the night. Stavisky drew a walk to load the bases but Ottavino struck out Smith. Mark Trumbo brought the Travs within two runs with a single past second base scoring Czarniecki and Leahy. With Ben Johnson at the plate, Trumbo bluffed a steal towards second base and Stavisky took off early before the pitch and was caught stealing home plate for the third out.
Stavisky made amends in the seventh inning with a game-tying homer off Cards reliever Jon Mikrut.
Francisco Rodriguez replaced Davidson and pitched around a leadoff single in the seventh inning. He returned for the eighth and recorded two quick outs before walking Brown. Brandon Buckman found a hole through the right side of the infield for a single advancing Brown to third base. Springfield used Brandon Yarbrough as a pinch hitter and he got ahead in the count 3-1 before hitting a sharp grounder just ot the left of Nate Sutton at second base. He mishandled the grounder and recovered too late to get an out while Brown scored putting the Cards up for good 6-5.
Gregerson reeled off a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the win and a share of first place with Northwest Arkansas.
Time of game was 2:51 and the paid attendance was 6,784.
NOTE: The Travs play the last seven games of the regular season at Dickey-Stephens Park beginning Tuesday night against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Naturals and Cardinals are tied atop the Texas League North standings with identical 37-26 records. Northwest Arkansas holds the tie-breaker. The second-half division champion will visit the Travs for games 1 and 2 of the Texas League playoffs beginning Wednesday, September 3.
Texas League Stories from August 26, 2008
- Late Homer Dooms Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Five-Game Winning Streak Stopped with 4-2 Loss - Springfield Cardinals
- Hynick, Drillers Stop Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Trio Named All-Stars - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs Weekly Report - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Pitching Coach Carter Honored as TL Coach of the Year - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Late Error Drops Travs Monday Night - Arkansas Travelers
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