Travs 24 Hit Parade Leads To 15-7 Win
August 25, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Ray Winder Field, Little Rock, Arkansas - The Arkansas Travelers (32-27, 66-63) put together a season-high 24 base hits in a 15-7 victory over the Wichita Wranglers (29-29, 64-64). Both 1B Kendry Morales and SS Erick Aybar had five base hits with Morales knocking in six runs with a home run (14), three singles and a double. All nine Travs starters collected at least one base hit with Reggie Willits and Mike Eylward each collecting three hits. On a night when the Travs' offense had their largest output of the season, RHP Jered Weaver (3-1) had his best Class AA outing. In his second win in a row Weaver dealt six scoreless innings with just four hits and a walk allowed plus seven strikeouts. Wichita rallied late and cracked 14 base hits to send the game total to 38 base hits. The Travs win evens this critical four game set at two apiece with Arkansas increasing their East Division lead to 2.5 games with 11 contests left.
The game started with Weaver and LHP Mike Stodolka (4-10) pitching a perfect first inning. Tommy Murphy kicked things off with a one-out double in the bottom of the second. Morales then lined a single to left field to chase Murphy home.
The first four Travs batters reached base in the thing inning. Leading off, Aybar pulled a double inside third base and took third base on a wild pitch. Willits then drove a triple to the left field track to score Aybar for a 2-0 Travs lead. 2B Howie Kendrick brought Willits home with a line drive off the left field fence. Kendrick pulled into second base and then saw Billy Butler's throw rolling towards the infield. Kendrick attempted to reach third, but was thrown out. Mike Napoli then doubled to left field and scored when Morales tagged a two-out home run for a 5-0 lead. Stodolka left the game in the third inning after allowing five runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings.
Wichita RHP Wes Wilkerson got the last out of the third and returned for the fourth. Travs 3B David Matranga led off the fourth inning with a single to left and scored when Aybar stretched a line drive to the right field gap into a triple. Willits singled Aybar home for a 7-0 lead.
Morales reached with one out in the fifth inning with a sharp single to center and then got balked to second base. Eylward made it an 8-0 Travs lead with an RBI single to right field. David Gates became the ninth Trav with a hit when he lined a single to left field. After Eylward was tagged out at third base on a fielder's choice, Aybar rolled a slow ball to first base and beat Josh Pressley's wild throw for a single. The error scored Gates for a 9-0 Travs lead.
Wichita committed five errors in the game with SS Mike Aviles bringing home the Travs' 10th run with a two-out fielding miscue in the sixth inning.
After Weaver left the game following the sixth inning, Wichita finally answered in the seventh against RHP Jason Olson with three runs.
However the Travs still had another rally left with a five run seventh inning. The first six Arkansas hitters reached base against RHP Steve Bray. Kendrick delivered an RBI double and Morales collected his fifth hit with a bases loaded double to cap the inning and a 15-3 lead.
Wichita 2B Ruben Gotay (3) and DH Cory Aldridge (22) each hit a two-run homer in the ninth for Wichita.
Time of game was 3:15 and the paid attendance was 2,564.
NOTES: Morales and Aybar are the first Travs to collect five hits in a game this season...Murphy is on a 7 game hitting streak...Aybar has scored 10 runs in 6 games...Morales has driven in 14 runs in 6 games...
The third game of this series features Arkansas RHP Steven Shell (9-7, 4.42 ERA) pitching against Wichita RHP Brian Bass (11-7, 5.41 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. and the gates open at 6:10 p.m.
Please call (501) 664-1555 or visit www.travs.com for game information.
Texas League Stories from August 25, 2005
- Drillers dealt loss by Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Pitching staff excellent in 3-1 win - Springfield Cardinals
- Bagwell to play for Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- San Antonio Missions game notes - San Antonio Missions
- Falu Ambles off to Texas League - Wichita Wranglers
- Three Travs named league post season all stars - Arkansas Travelers
- Travs 24 Hit Parade Leads To 15-7 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks rally for nightcap win - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hirsh is TL Pitcher of the Year - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
