Traveler Hits Don't Pay Off in 7-3 Loss
Published on August 9, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Travelers collected plenty of hits against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, just not enough when it counted Sunday. Despite out-hitting the Naturals by four, the Travs fell 7-3 at Dickey-Stephens Park with a 3-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position, stranding nine baserunners. Northwest Arkansas capitalized on Traveler mistakes, matching its seven hits with seven runs, thanks to four walks and a pair of errors by Arkansas starter Alex Torres.
Torres (L, 1-1) gave up at least one run in each of the four innings he pitched, with a final line of 3.1 innings pitched, seven runs (five earned) and six hits allowed. But the four free passes totaled ten baserunners, while Torres only recorded ten outs, and he made two throwing errors on pickoff attempts that led to two unearned runs.
"We got down right away, starting with Torres. We couldn't go out and put up zeroes. That set the tone, we were down again, we tried to come back and just fell short," Arkansas manager Bobby Magallanes said. "The pickoff play at second, threw it away, that led to a run. Pickoff at first base that led to a run. Then the walks - it was a rough night."
The Naturals (26-17, 62-51) piled up five 2-out RBIs in four innings, a two-RBI single by Ed Lucas in the first, a run-scoring single by Jarrod Dyson in the second, and a another two-out, two-RBI single off the bat of Jeff Bianchi in the fourth. Northwest Arkansas is batting .291 with runners in scoring position on the season, compared to the Travs' .254 mark, and with two outs and runners on second or third, the Naturals have a .269 batting average compared to Arkansas' .219.
"[Our pitching staff] doesn't have a problem with a guy at first base, but once they get to second base, even when we try to put hitters away, they find a way to put the bat on the ball and drive guys in," Magallanes said.
Matt Kniginyzky (W, 5-9) did just the opposite for the Naturals, allowing nine hits in seven innings of work but allowing only one earned run. Hank Conger doubled in the second inning and scored on a Brian Walker line-single to right, and then the Traveler offense was held scoreless until the seventh inning. Walker led off the seventh with his second single of the game and then scored on a Peter Bourjos two-out infield hit, when third baseman Kurt Mertins threw the ball away (14) after Bourjos had already beat the throw. Mark Trumbo, who went 3-for-4, scored the last Arkansas run in the eighth frame off reliever Gilbert De La Vara, doubling to right and coming home on a two-out single by Ryan Mount. But the Travs (17-25, 45-67) wasted too many opportunities Sunday, hitting into two double plays and leaving six runners on base in scoring position.
Arkansas got 3.2 innings of one-hit relief from Amalio Diaz, the only hit a single that allowed a pair of inherited runners to score in the fourth, runs charged to Torres. Barret Browning then struck out two in a perfect eighth, and Bryan Rembisz tossed a 1-2-3 ninth. Walker's two hits raised his batting average to .438 in five games now with Arkansas, while Conger went 2-for-4 to put his average at an even .300. Trumbo's double was his 28th, which is fourth-best in the Texas League.
The paid attendance Sunday numbered 3,924 with a game time of 2:46. The in-state rivals wrap up the four-game set tomorrow at 7:10 p.m., with righthander Tim Kiely (4-1, 4.58 ERA) matching up with lefty Rowdy Hardy (3-1, 2.53).
Texas League Stories from August 9, 2009
- Traveler Hits Don't Pay Off in 7-3 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Surge Late, Fall Short - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Down Cards; Home Stand Wraps on Monday - Springfield Cardinals
- Beavan, 'Riders Hold Off San Antonio - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers' Blasts Beat Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Torres Named Angels' Pitcher of the Month - Arkansas Travelers
- Texans cheerleaders to visit Whataburger Field - Corpus Christi Hooks
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