Oswalt, Drillers Take Travs Down Friday
Published on June 14, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock, Arkansas - Roy Oswalt shined on Friday night helping the Tulsa Drillers to a 2-0 victory over the Arkansas Travelers. The 35-year old combined on a five-hitter with Leuris Gomez to knock the Travs 1.5 games behind the Drillers for the Texas League North Division lead and only three games remaining in the first half.
Oswalt (3-2, 2.16) made his fifth and final start with the Drillers and dealt 8.1 innings allowing five hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. Early on the Travs had chances to score with four hits over the first three innings, but Oswalt was dominant in the middle and late innings with 15 consecutive batters retired.
Tulsa catcher Dustin Garneau (5) led off the second inning with a home run to left field, his second dinger of the series. The Drillers scored the last run of the game in the fourth inning on a two-out single by Delta Cleary. Jaron Shepard had reached base on a two-out throwing error charged to second baseman Taylor Lindsey. Then Shepard stole second base on a pitchout and scored on Cleary's single for a 2-0 Tulsa lead.
Lay Batista (3-6) took the tough-luck loss for the Travs in a 6.2 inning performance that saw seven strikeouts. Batista allowed Garneau's homer to start the second inning then saw the Drillers load the bases with a hit batsman, muffed sacrifice bunt and a walk. Shepard hit a hard liner to third baseman Kaleb Cowart, who stepped on third base for a double play. Then Batista slipped through the inning when Cleary hit a groundout to shortstop.
It appeared the Travs might score early against Oswalt as Rolando Gomez and Drew Heid lined first-inning singles. Oswalt got Randal Grichuk to bounce to third baseman Jayson Langfels, who threw to Joey Wong at second base to begin a double play. Lindsey then popped out to end the threat.
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning Jett Bandy and Gomez hit back-to-back singles, but the threat fizzled. Oswalt got Heid to ground into a fielder's choice and struck out Grichuk starting his string of 15 outs.
Batista meanwhile retired seven of nine Drillers batters the third time through the batting order. He left the game in the seventh inning after surrendering a single to Rafael Ortega and a walk to Cristhian Adames. Nick Maronde retired Kiel Roling on a grounder then pitched through the eighth inning.
Oswalt issued his only walk when the ninth inning began with Gomez. Heid grounded into a fielder's choice and Leuris Gomez came from the bullpen to face Grichuk who hit a sharp liner to right field. Cleary came on for a sliding catch before Lindsey popped out to end the game.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2013
- Hooks Win First Half at 'Riders Expense - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Unable to Hold off Springfield Rally - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Oswalt Dominates, Drillers Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Oswalt, Drillers Take Travs Down Friday - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals June 14th Game Sold Out - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders' Martinez and Nicholas Honored by Rangers - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cuthbert, Alexander Promoted to Double-A - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Teodoro Martinez Added to All-Star Roster - Frisco RoughRiders
- RoughRiders to Host Police and Firefighter Nights - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals, Great Day Farms Partner on Free Baseball Clinic - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks Pummel Pimentel - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Top Cardinals in Thursday's Twin Bill - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs Split Twin Bill with Tulsa Thursday - Arkansas Travelers
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