McKiernan, Travs Roll Naturals 9-1
Published on August 6, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Springdale, Arkansas -
On a night where the Arkansas Travelers offense blasted away for a 9-1 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, it was Eddie McKiernan who stole the show on Saturday night at Arvest Ballpark.
The Traveler right hander dazzled by retiring 27 of 29 batters for the night including the last 15 Naturals in order.
The converted reliever dealt his first career nine-inning complete game racking up seven strikeouts against no walks.
The Travs slugged three home runs amongst their 13 base hits, while Mike Trout reached base five times and scored three runs.
The victory bring the Travs to 19-23 in the second half (55-54 overall) and three games behind NW Arkansas.
The Naturals had their three-game winning streak halted and fell to 22-20 in the second half (57-52 overall)
Trout led the way with three base hits including a double, but four other Travs enjoyed multi-hit nights.
Blake Gailen (1) and Gabe Jacobo (9) each clobbered a two-run homer amongst two base hits.
Chris Pettit was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and Roberto Lopez crushed a two-run homer (9).
Naturals right hander Jake Odorizzi (3-2) absorbed most of the beating allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks in 4.2 innings to lose his first start against the Travs.
McKiernan, coming off a strong 7.1 inning performance on Monday, threw 93 pitches to go the distance and stop a personal seven-game road losing streak.
He got all the run support needed in the first inning when the Travs put up three runs on Gailen's drive over the right field fence, and an RBI double by Pettit that scored Trout from first base.
Northwest Arkansas tallied their only run of the night when Jeff Bianchi hit a solo home run (2) with two outs in the first inning.
McKiernan followed by striking out Paulo Orlando looking beginning a string of 10 outs.
Trout began the third inning with a line drive double to right then stole third base with two outs and was knocked in again by a two-out base hit from Pettit, a single to left field for a 4-1 lead.
Trout reached again in the third with a walk and scored on Jacobo's blast to left field, which knocked Odorizzi from the game.
Pettit was hit by a two-strike pitch by reliever Brendan Lafferty, and Lopez followed with a long drive way past the left field wall increasing the Travs' lead to 8-1.
Trout's two-out single in the sixth inning scored Jesus Campos, who had singled and advanced on a wild pitch, for the final run of the game.
Texas League Stories from August 6, 2011
- McKiernan, Travs Roll Naturals 9-1 - Arkansas Travelers
- Missions Tame 'Riders with 5-1 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals two-hit by Travs Saturday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers and Cardinals Rained Out - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals and Drillers Postponed due to Rain - Springfield Cardinals
- Corpus Christi Hooks Game Notes - Corpus Christi Hooks
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