Missions Stymie Travs Wednesday 4-2
Published on May 22, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
San Antonio, Texas - An aggressive offensive attack led by shortstop Jeudy Valdez helped the San Antonio Missions to a 4-2 victory over the Arkansas Travelers on Wednesday night at Wolff Stadium. Valdez collected three of the Missions 13 base hits including a double and triple while scoring two runs. C.J. Cron led the Travs with two base hits, his 15th multi-hit game of the season, but they suffered their third loss in the last four games.
The Travs loss coupled with the Springfield Cardinals' 10-4 victory over Frisco drops Arkansas into second place by a half game at 24-20. The Missions stopped a two-game losing streak to improve to 23-22.
Travs starting pitcher Matt Oye (4-3) was hit hard in the loss allowing 11 base hits in just 4.1 innings. The Missions managed just three runs off Oye as four San Antonio runners were caught stealing including three by Travs catcher Anthony Bemboom.
Valdez led off the third inning with a double and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Buschini. With the Travs infield playing up, Raymond Fuentes hit a soft single to left field bringing in Valdez for a 1-0 Missions lead.
Missions starter Keyvius Sampson held the Travs to no hits over three innings, but Kaleb Cowart opened the fourth inning with a single. Cron then fell behind 0-2 before cracking a high fly ball to the right field corner for an RBI double to tie the game. After moving to third base on a bunt single by Taylor Lindsey, Cron scored when Randal Grichuk bounced into a double play giving the Travs a 2-1 lead.
Sampson (2-3) finished the fifth inning and earned the win allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while adding five strikeouts.
Thanks to a sparkling double play, Oye was able to hold the lead in the fourth inning. Johan Limonta reached on an infield single to lead off. After an out, Eddy Rodriguez singled putting runners at first and second. A.J. Kirby-Jones followed with a high chopper up the middle. After a bad hop, Lindsey fed Jimmy Swift who pirouetted and fired into the dirt in front of Cron at first base. Cron made the scoop to complete the double play.
Still the Missions hammered away at Oye in the fifth inning as Valdez led off with a triple. Adam Buschini lifted a double deep to left field to knock in the tying run. Then Rico Noel's one-out single through the right side gave the Missions a 3-2 lead and ended Oye's night.
San Antonio right hander Josh Geer, the 2007 Texas League Pitcher of the Year, relieved for the sixth inning and Cron greeted him with a single. Lindsey grounded into a fielder's choice with Cron forced out at second base. Then Randal Grichuk hit a bloop single to right field that sent Lindsey running for third base. Raymond Fuentes's throw from right rolled through third base into foul territory where it was recovered by Jake Blackwood. Lindsey attempted to score on the error but was tagged out by Eddy Rodriguez just before reaching the plate. Grichuk was stranded at third base when Geer struck out Drew Heid for the third out.
Geer finished 1.2 innings before giving the ball to Jeff Ibarra in the seventh inning following Swift's two-out single. Left hander Jeff Ibarra balked the tying run to second base but struck out Rolando Gomez for the third out.
Nick Maronde relieved for the last out of the fifth inning and was replaced by Ryan Chaffee in the sixth with one out. Chaffee came back for the seventh and put Kirby-Jones on base with a leadoff walk. Pinch runner Kalian Sams advanced to third on Valdez's third hit, a single to right field, then scored when Buschini bounced into a double play pushing the Missions lead to 4-2.
The Missions bullpen retired the final seven Travs batters. Jeff Ibarra struck out Rolando Gomez to end the seventh inning. Matt Stites worked the eighth inning and Kevin Quackenbush earned the save (7) with a perfect ninth inning.
The Travs and Missions are set for a Thursday night game at 7:05 p.m. at Wolff Stadium. Manny Correa (2-3, 4.40) is scheduled to throw for the Travs against Missions right hander Matt Wisler (1-1, 8.00). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from May 22, 2013
- Missions Stymie Travs Wednesday 4-2 - Arkansas Travelers
- Four Homers Power Drillers to Victory - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks Claim Series Opener against Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Reclaim 1st Place in 10-4 Rout - Springfield Cardinals
- Missions Edge Travelers 4-2 in Series Opener - San Antonio Missions
- Early Surge Downs 'Riders in Springfield, 10-4 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Fireworks over the River Sunday - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Pledge $10,000 To Tornado Relief Efforts, Plan Auctions - Tulsa Drillers
- Roy Oswalt to Join Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Ventura Off To Strong Start - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travelers Announce Baseball Clinic in June - 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.
