Late Homer Dooms Travs
Published on August 26, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, Arkansas - In the top of the 10th inning, Juan Richardson sent a 3-0 pitch from Barret Browning (1-1) just fair over the right-field fence for a two-run home run to send the NW Arkansas Naturals (38-26, 71-63) to a 4-3 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (24-40, 60-74). The Travs scored a run in the bottom of the 10th but stranded the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at first when Adam Morrissey popped out to Richardson in foul territory to end the game.
The Travs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth off Nats' starter Rowdy Hardy when Morrissey doubled and scored on Jordan Czarniecki's RBI single. Czarniecki finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Travelers' starter David Austen cruised through the first 5.2 innings before issuing a four-pitch walk to Richardson with two outs in the sixth. The next batter, Cory Aldridge, laced a first-pitch homer to right to give the Naturals the lead 2-1.
Corey Smith tied the game at two with a first-pitch homer of his own, leading off the sixth inning.
Austen pitched 7.2 very strong innings and allowed just two earned runs on seven hits.
The score stayed 2-2 until Richardson sneaked his 15th home run of the season just inside the right-field fair pole.
Ryan Leahy extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the first inning and collected his second hit of the game leading off the 10th. Brian Stavisky followed him with a single of his own to put the tying run on for Smith who grounded into a fielder's choice, erasing Stavisky and putting runners on the corners with one out. After Mark Trumbo swung at strike three for the second out, Ben Johnson delivered a bloop single to score Leahy and cut the Nats' lead to one run. Morrissey then popped out to end the game and give the Travs their fourth consecutive loss.
Chris Hayes (5-2) was credited with the win and Tim Hamulack picked up his sixth save of the year.
Time of game was 3:00 and paid attendance was 4,394.
Boxscore
The Travelers will play game two of this four-game set with the Nats on Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. with the gates opening at 6:10. Pitching for the Travs will be RHP Bobby Mosebach (9-11, 4.74 ERA). Opposing him will be Nats' RHP Julio Pimentel (6-12, 5.59 ERA).
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
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
