Pena and Company One-Hit Naturals
Published on June 23, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Springdale, Arkansas - One night after holding the Naturals to two base hits, three Arkansas pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Travelers pulled off a 4-0 shutout victory over Northwest Arkansas on Saturday night at Arvest Ballpark. Ariel Pena (5-4) dealt six innings allowing the only hit while walking two against seven strikeouts in earning the win. Caleb Graham reeled off two shutout innings then Kevin Johnson closed the game with a perfect ninth inning. Jean Segura homered (6) and drove in two runs while Casey Haerther collected three base hits.
In evening this four-game series the Travelers improve their second half record to 2-2, while the Naturals drop to 2-2 in the second half as well.
The only chances the Naturals had to score came in the first two innings. Segura mishandled the first play in the field allowing Yem Prades to reach base. After a sacrifice bunt moved Prades to second base, Pena turned dominant and struck out Brian Fletcher and Eric Duncan.
Pena made it four consecutive strikeouts when he whiffed Mario Lisson and Carlo Testa to begin the second inning. Nick Van Stratten followed with the Naturals' only base hit, a line drive single to center, followed by a walk to Alex McClure. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, but Pena got Julio Rodriguez to bounce to third base to strand the runners.
Only two more Naturals batters reached base over the last seven innings and 21 of the last 23 batters were retired.
The Travs had a couple of runners reach second against Noel Arguelles over two innings, but he stranded both of them and came into the fourth inning with a string of five outs. However Renny Osuna drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third base on a single by Roberto Lopez. Ryan Mount knocked in Osuna when he grounded into a fielder's choice forcing Lopez at second base. Then Haerther hit his second single of the night to left field moving Mount to third base, where he scored from on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.
With one out in the fifth inning Travis Witherspoon hit a long triple off the top of the centerfield fence and scored on a sacrifice fly by Segura for a 3-0 lead.
Segura took Buddy Baumann deep over the right field fence in the eighth inning to complete the scoring.
Pena finished his night with outs from 13 of the last 14 Naturals batters he faced. Graham fired two innings with a hit batter his only blemish. Johnson took care of the Naturals in the ninth 1-2-3.
Time of game was 2:31 and the paid attendance was 5,281.
Texas League Stories from June 23, 2012
- Pena and Company One-Hit Naturals - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards Hold Back Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Beat Tulsa 5-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Pena Puzzles Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, June 23 at Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
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