TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Travs Blank Naturals Again on Sunday

Published on June 24, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Springdale, Arkansas - Three pitchers combined on the Arkansas Travelers' second shutout in a row during a 2-0 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday at Arvest Ballpark. Mike Piazza dealt six scoreless innings in a no-decision while Ryan Chaffee (2-1) earned the win with two innings of hitless work. Kevin Johnson (5) earned the save in the ninth inning. Both Travs runs scored in the ninth inning off losing pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth (0-3) who threw two wild pitches and allowed three runs. Traveler pitching has a string of 20 consecutive scoreless innings and has held the Naturals to just 7 hits in three games and a .087 batting average.

With back-to-back wins the Travs improve to 3-2 in the second half and 9-8 against the Naturals, who drop to 2-3 in the second half.

Piazza was outstanding in his third start of the season allowing just five base runners in six innings on three singles and two walks. He stumbled a bit in the second inning with walks to two of the first three innings, but with runners and first and third base he got Alex McClure to bounce into a double play to end the inning and that started a string of nine straight outs.

The Travs finished with 11 base hits and had at least one hit in each of the first six innings. Michael Mariot found a way to wiggle out of trouble through his six innings, stranding eight runners, on eight base hits and a walk.

The Travs had a good chance in the fourth inning with a leadoff single by Renny Osuna and a one-out double by Ryan Mount put runners at second and third. Mariot grabbed Casey Haerther's comeback and caught Osuna in a rundown, then got Brian Hernandez to fly out.

In the Travs' half of the sixth inning Jose Jimenez singled and was bunted to second by Darwin Perez. Travis Witherspoon's ground ball was smothered by McClure on a dive at shortstop keeping the ball inside the infield while Jimenez could only advance to third base. Mariot got Segura to pop out then walked Osuna to load the bases. Roberto Lopez made the third out with a ground to third base. The Travs had 10 of the next 11 batters set down.

Chaffee replaced Piazza and first a perfect sixth inning, but gave up McClure's leadoff single in the eighth. After a bunt moved McClure to second, Paulo Orlando hit a screamer that Osuna jumped for behind third base and made a spectacular catch then fired to second to double off McClure.

Hollingsworth was solid in his first two innings retiring all six batters he faced, but the ninth inning opened with a single by Haerther. Pinch runner Jimmy Swift took third base on a hit-and-run single by Hernandez to left field. With Jimenez batting Hollingsworth buried an 0-2 slider into the dirt for a wild pitch that scored Swift. Perez made it 2-0 with an RBI single to left field.

Time of game was 2:26 and the paid attendance was 5,092.

The Travs now try for a series win Monday afternoon after taking two-of-three from the Naturals. They'll send Matt Oye (2-4, 4.50) to the mound against Naturals Sugar Ray Marimon (AA debut after 4-2, 2.12 at Wilmington). First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m.

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Texas League Stories from June 24, 2012


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