TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Naturals run past Travs Monday night

Published on July 20, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS - The Arkansas Travelers lost for the 12th time in their last 14 meetings with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Monday night, 7-6. Jeff Bianchi's RBI single capped a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth that saw the Naturals come from one run behind. The Naturals scored five runs and collected 11 of their 14 base hits with two outs. All nine starters had a base hit for the Travelers, but they also committed two errors and allowed seven stolen bases. Naturals centerfielder Jarrod Dyson stole three bases and scored two runs, including the tying run in the eighth inning.

Right fielder Jeremy Moore finished 2-for-3 for the Travs with two runs scored and two runs batted in off his first class AA home run. Mark Trumbo, Wil Ortiz and Ivan Contreras also had two hits apiece.

The Travs held the lead three times, but allowed runs in the bottom of each inning that they scored. Their bullpen was charged with two blown saves, and right hander Ryan Aldridge (L, 0-1) was charged with the loss allowing three consecutive two out base hits and two runs in the eighth inning.

Northwest Arkansas closer Juan Abreu, in his class AA debut, pitched around two walks to save the game with a shutout ninth inning.

The Travs rallied for three runs in the third inning on RBI singles by Hainley Statia, Trumbo and second baseman Ryan Mount. A fielding error by first baseman Corey Smith made two of the runs charged to right hander Matt Kniginyzky unearned.

The Naturals got two of those runs back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Bianchi singled to right field breaking his 2-for-24 slide. Smith reached with an infield single, then David Lough singled to right field scoring Bianchi and sending Corey Smith to third base. Lough attempted to steal second base, and as catcher Hank Conger threw to second base Smith streaked to the plate and stole home with no throw.

Right hander Tim Kiely got the nod Monday night for the Travs. He gave up a pair of solo home runs in the fourth inning as the Travs fell behind 4-3. Naturals DH Vance Wilson hit a leadoff home run (4) to left field to tie the game, and third baseman Marc Maddox (1) lifted a home run with one out for a 4-3 NWA lead.

Moore's two-run homer off Kniginyzky in the sixth inning snuck over the left field fence putting the Travs up 5-4, but the lead didn't last the next half inning. Against Travs reliever David Herndon, Dyson singled to third base with two outs, then stole second base as Conger's throw sailed into center field. Coby Smith backed up the throw in the outfield but dropped the ball and Dyson scored all the way from first base on the double error to tie the game at 4-4.

Swaggerty relieved in the seventh inning and came back for the eighth. He hit Moore with a pitch with one out then balked the go-ahead run to second base. Ortiz knocked in the go-ahead run with a single to right field. Naturals skipper Brian Poldberg, who argued with first base umpire Brian Sinclair on the balk, argued again this time with the third base umpire Brad Myers that Moore had missed third base. Myers ejected Poldberg after a few minutes.

The Travs handed Aldridge the ball for the eighth with a 6-5 lead and he responded by retiring the first two batters. But Dyson blooped a single to left and stole second base again. Kurt Mertins pulled a ground ball single to left field scoring the tying run while Mertins advanced to second base on the throw. Bianchi's game-winning base hit went down the third-base line and Contreras overran the ball as Mertins came towards the plate. Bianchi was thrown out at home plate attempting to round the bases on the error by Contreras.

Abreu struggled at the outset of the ninth inning issuing two walks to place the go-ahead runs on base. With the cleanup batter at the plate Abreu got Mark Trumbo to foul out then Ryan Mount on a flyball to left field. Chris Gutierrez struck out looking to end the game.

Time of game was 3:00 and the paid attendance was 4,164.

The second game of this four-game set will be played on Tuesday night at Arvest Ballpark. The Travelers have right hander Amalio Diaz (1-5, 4.71) pitching against Northwest Arkansas lefty Rowdy Hardy (0-1, 7.20). First pitch will be thrown around 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 20, 2009


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