Saunders Deals One Hitter In 4-0 Win
July 1, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Drillers Stadium, Tulsa, OK - LHP Joe Saunders (6-4) dealt a one-hit complete-game shutout facing just 30 batters in pitching the Arkansas Travelers (4-4, 38-40) to a 4-0 victory over the Tulsa Drillers (2-5, 45-32). Saunders tossed the lowest hit game in the Texas League this season using 102 pitches with two walks and six strikeouts. In tossing the first visiting shutout at Drillers Stadium this year, Saunders set down the first seven batters he faced before allowing a one-out double to Luis Guance. Then he retired another seven straight after a two-out walk in the third before issuing another walk to start the sixth inning. The last 12 Drillers batters went down in order to complete the Travs' first nine-inning complete game of the season. Tulsa LHP Zack Parker (9-4) failed in his second bid for a tenth win and was victim of poor defense when he allowed three unearned runs in the fourth inning. Travs C Mike Napoli produced the only earned run of the game when he launched a solo home run (15) in the sixth inning to tie for the league lead.
Parker out dueled Saunders over the first three innings by setting down all nine batters he faced while Saunders left two runners on base in the third inning.
A few odd plays gave the Travelers their first three runs in one stretch of the fourth inning. Reggie Willits began the inning with a dribbler towards the mound and it went between Parker's legs for an infield single. Then Alberto Callaspo hit a routine grounder through the legs of Tulsa 3B Luis Guance for a two-base error that put Willits at third base. Aybar followed with a blooper that fell in shallow right field for an RBI single that plated Willits. After one out, Kendry Morales grounded slowly to third base and Guance made the play. Morales was called safe however, when 1B Corey Slavik pulled his foot off the base before catching the ball for an error that scored Callaspo from third base and put Aybar at third base. Tommy Murphy hit a fly ball to left field deep enough to score Aybar for a 3-0 lead.
Parker made his last mistake in the sixth inning when he fell behind Napoli 3-0 and grooved a fastball that Napoli lined over the left-field fence for a 4-0 lead.
Time of game was 2:06 and the paid attendance was 4,359.
The Travs and Drillers play the second game of this five-game set on Saturday with LHP Tim Bittner (1-6, 6.13 ERA) taking on Tulsa RHP Jon Asahina (8-3, 3.19 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from July 1, 2005
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- Saunders 1-hits Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Saunders Deals One Hitter In 4-0 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Don't Forget About the Friday Night Bash Tonight - Wichita Wranglers
- Wranglers open holiday weekend with Friday Night Bash - Wichita Wranglers
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