Losing Streak Reaches Five with 4-1 Loss
Published on July 6, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
LITTLE ROCK - Offensive woes continued for the Arkansas Travelers in a 4-1 loss to the Midland RockHounds on Sunday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. After scoring a run two batters into the first inning, the Travs were shut out the rest of the way losing for the fifth straight game. Jefry Marte knocked in two runs and hit the go-ahead home run (6) off losing pitcher Nate Smith in the sixth inning.
The Travs managed six base hits and have a total of 20 hits and a .131 batting average during the losing streak.
Smith (4-2) pitched well during his second start against the Hounds this week allowing two runs on five hits in six innings. The lefty walked two batters and struck out seven.
With scheduled starting pitcher Drew Granier promoted to Oakland's Triple-A affiliate this morning, the Hounds were forced to use the bullpen for the entire game. Deryk Hooker turned in three innings and allowed the lone Travs run on three hits and a walk to Maikol Gonzalez to begin the first inning. He stole second and advanced to third when RockHounds catcher Beau Taylor's throw bounced off his body and rolled to the outfield. Alex Yarbrough looped a single over the drawn-up infield to score Gonzalez.
Yarbrough finished 2-for-4 becoming the first player in the Texas League to 100 base hits.
Smith retired the first six batters, but put Dusty Coleman on to begin the third inning with a walk. Conner Crumbliss singled him to second base, then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. D'Arby Myers hit a fly ball that dropped into centerfield for an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
Smith had set down six in a row again when Marte struck for his third homer off an Arkansas pitcher in the sixth inning to break the 1-1 tie.
The Hounds got to Jairo Diaz in the eighth inning for two runs on two base hits. Myers led off with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Chad Oberacker. Max Muncy ripped a triple over Matt Long's head in center field knocking in Myers. Long then made a fabulous diving catch of a low liner from Marte, but Muncy scored on the sacrifice fly giving the RockHounds a 4-1 lead.
Blake Hassebrock (3-0) turned in two scoreless innings for the victory. Marcus Walden dealt three innings with just two batters reaching base. Ryan Dull (2) earned the save with a perfect ninth inning.
The last 11 Travs batters were retired in order.
Time of game was 2:47 and the paid attendance was 4,162.
The Travs try to salvage the last game of this home stand on Monday night with Orangel Arenas (5-5, 3.41) on the mound. The RockHounds counter with Shawn Haviland (4-5, 3.26) with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m.
Texas League Stories from July 6, 2014
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- Drillers Lose Third Straight, Fourth on Road Trip - Tulsa Drillers
- Missions Slip by Cardinals with 2-1 Walk-Off Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Frisco Once Again the Apple of (Lane) Adams' Eye - Frisco RoughRiders
- San Antonio Walks-Off Springfield on Bixler's Ninth-Inning Single - San Antonio Missions
- Dozier, Adams, Power Naturals Past Frisco, 3-0 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- San Antonio Missions Game Notes: July 6 vs. Springfield (6:05 PM CST) - San Antonio Missions
- Frisco RoughRiders Game Notes - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions Fall to Cardinals in Opener - San Antonio Missions
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