Sports stats

TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Travs Drop Fifth Straight with 12-Inning Loss

July 4, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


NORTH LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Travelers lost for the second night in a row after going into the final inning tied, dropping Friday's back-and-forth game 6-5 in 12 innings after surrendering a bases loaded walk in the top of the 12th inning. Josh Horton singled for the only hit of the last inning, and Traveler reliever Marco Albano (L, 1-3) walked three of the next four batters to walk in Horton in what proved to be the game-winning run.

Midland (6-2, 43-35) scored in the top of the 11th too, with Alex Valdez drawing a leadoff walk, stealing second and scoring on a Wil Ortiz error. But the Travs (2-6, 30-48) countered in the bottom of the 11th when Peter Bourjos tripled and scored from third on a Coby Smith fielder's choice grounder to the pitcher. Hank Conger came to bat with the game tied, one out and one on, Conger hit a towering fly ball to the fence in deep right field. But rightfielder Matt Spencer leaned over the fence, robbed Conger of a home run but dropped the ball back on the playing field. The umpire called Conger out, with the ball dropped in the transition, and Spencer fired the ball back in to double up Smith on a bizarre 9-4-3 inning-ending flyout-double play.

Arkansas had three bases runners in the 12th, but a double play erased one runner and a groundout with two runners in scoring position ended the game. Steve Sharpe (W, 2-0) blew his first save but picked up the win after giving up the run in the 11th, and Jon Hunton got the save by working out of the jam in the 12th inning.

There were 20 hits and 19 walks in 108 at-bats (420 pitches) between the teams, with 22 runners left on base combined.

The Travelers scored in the first inning with Conger's solo home run to the back wall of the home bullpen. Midland answered in the second when Valdez singled, stole second and scored on a Josh Donaldson double. The RockHounds got a two-out RBI single in the fifth off the bat of Adrian Cardenas to score Archie Gilbert, but Arkansas tied the game again in the sixth when Mark Trumbo scored on a ground-rule double by Branden Florence.

Midland took a 4-2 lead in the eighth after back-to-back walks to start the inning, Horton scoring on a Chris Carter single and Cardenas when Valdez grounded into a double play. The Travs answered with two of their own in the bottom of the inning, Conger and Val Majewski reaching on back-to-back walks and scoring on a groundout by Florence and single by Wil Ortiz. The game stayed tied 4-4 until the 11th, when both teams scored one, and ended in the 12th when Arkansas couldn't score despite the three baserunners.

Trevor Reckling overcame poor control to allow just two runs (one earned) in 5.1 innings despite eight hits and four walks. Bryan Rembisz walked two and gave up two runs without allowing a hit in 1.2 innings. Bobby Cassevah pitched a scoreless eighth before Fernando Rodriguez's brilliant three innings of one-hit relief, although an unearned run scored after reaching on a walk.

For the RockHounds, starter Travis Banwart held the Travs to two hits and a run in five innings, walking three. Relievers Mike Benacka, Rocky Roquet and Steve Sharpe all blew saves, allowing three runs combined on four hits and four walks. Arnold Leon tossed a scoreless 10th inning.

Attendance for Friday's 4-hour, 15-minute marathon game was 6,586, most of whom stuck around for a fireworks show afterward. Arkansas will try to salvage the series with a win Saturday behind Tommy Mendoza (5-4, 3.04), while Graham Godfrey (7-4, 3.42) will pitch for a Midland sweep. Game time is set for 7:10 p.m.

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics



Texas League Stories from July 4, 2009


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.

Other Recent Arkansas Travelers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central