Travs down Nats
Published on June 6, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Arvest Ballpark, Springdale, AR - The Travs took their second straight game at Northwest Arkansas and smacked three homers for all their scoring in a 4-2 victory over the Naturals. Mike Collins (4) hit a solo home run then after Northwest Arkansas tied the game, Ben Johnson (12) and Brian Stavisky (2) hit back-to-back dingers to give the Travs the lead for good. RHP Bobby Mosebach (5-3) scattered nine base hits over 6.2 innings for the victory. RHP Steve Marek closed it out with four strikeouts over two perfect innings for his third save.
Now at 30-29 the Travs pull within one game of the first-place Naturals heading into the series finale on Saturday night.
Not all the news was good for the Travs as SS Hainley Statia left the game with a pulled right hamstring after the fifth inning. He is expected to be placed on the disabled list and might miss two weeks.
Mosebach set down the first seven Northwest Arkansas batters, but had to battle the rest of the way. The Naturals recorded all eight of their hits and had two other batters reach but managed just two runs leaving eight men on base.
RHP Blake Johnson (5-4) took the loss and allowed all four runs on three homers, one walk and four strikeouts.
The Travs and Naturals traded solo homers in the fourth inning. Collins with a drive over the centerfield wall, but Naturals DH Kila Kaaihue answered with a blast past right field.
With two outs in the fifth inning the Naturals had a chance to take the lead. With Angel Sanchez at first base, Geraldo Valentin sliced a liner to the right field fence. Drew Toussaint picked it up and fired to Nate Sutton as Valentin rounded third. The throw to the plate arrived in time for C Brian Walker to tag Sanchez for the third out.
Johnson opened the seventh inning by throwing a curve that glanced off Collins' helmet. Ben Johnson then ran a full count before yanking a two-run homer to right field. Stavisky followed with a high shot over the centerfield fence for a 4-1 lead.
Mosebach hit a batter and allowed a single in the sixth inning. With runners at first and second, Mosebach attempted a pickoff at second base but threw the ball into centerfield moving the runners up. Mario Lisson brought in a run with a bouncer to the right of the mound that Mosebach fielded and threw to first for a force.
Mosebach left in the seventh inning after giving up a double and a walk. LHP Doug Brandt was summoned to face Kaaihue with the tying run on base. He got the All-Star DH to pop out to end the threat.
Marek came in for the eighth and whiffed four batters in a row before closing the game out.
Time of game was 2:30 and the paid attendance was 5,478.
NOTES: Johnson and Stavisky hit the second back-to-back homers for the Travs this season...Collins leads all Minor League players with 17 times hit by a pitch...
Texas League Stories from June 6, 2008
- Travs down Nats - Arkansas Travelers
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- Hooks Hurlers Hang Hounds - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Robinson continues to torment Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Long ball dooms Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Garner Four All Stars - Arkansas Travelers
- Clement to Pitch at Hammons on Sunday - Springfield Cardinals
- Seven RockHounds Named All-Stars - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Answer Nats With 7-1 Defeat - Arkansas Travelers
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