Travs Drop First Game of Series Vs. Cardinals
Published on August 3, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock - The Travs dropped the first game of a three-game series 5-4 against the Springfield Cardinals on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Dickey-Stephens Park in front of an announced crowd of 3,560. The loss put the Travs in last place, two games behind the first-place Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Tulsa Drillers. Game-time temperature was 104 degrees.
With the Travs down one in the bottom of the ninth inning, Darwin Perez hit a one-out, pinch-hit double down the right-field line off of Cardinals closer David Kopp and Mike Trout reached on an infield single to put runners at first and second. Chris Pettit grounded out to first base to move the runners to second and third base, and Roberto Lopez grounded one in the hole between shortstop and third base where Ryan Jackson made a good play to throw him out at first, ending the game.
Travs starter lefty Andrew Taylor walked shortstop Ryan Jackson to start a four-run top of the third inning. After Taylor struck Matt Adams out for the first out, he gave up a single to left field by right fielder Aaron Luna and an infield single to former Arkansas Razorback Zack Cox to load the bases.
Travs shortstop Jesus Campos had trouble getting catcher Charlie Cutler's grounder out of his glove and was charged with an error. Jackson scored on Cutler's RBI for a 1-0 Cardinals lead. With the bases loaded, Jermaine Curtis singled to right field scoring Luna for a two-run lead. Left fielder Daryl Jones grounded out to the first baseman Lopez for the second out, but Lopez' throw attempting to get Curtis out at second base sailed into left field allowing two more runs to score for the Cardinals' 4-0 lead.
Taylor (2-9, 4.52) got the loss giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out two batters in earning his fifth loss in a row.
Cox made a one-out throwing error on Angel Castillo's grounder to third base to get things going for the Travs. After Cardinals's starter lefty Nick Additon struck out Blake Gailen for the second out, Campos hit a deep fly to right field that the right fielder Luna dropped by the warning track allowing Castillo to score to bring the Travs within three runs. Additon walked Trout the next at bat, but Pettit grounded out to end the inning.
The Cardinals picked up another unearned run in the top of the sixth even though reliever Mike Piazza struck out the side. Campos made his second error of the game with one out after Piazza walked lead-off man Jim Rapoport, who advanced to third after stealing second base. Piazza struck out Adams, but with Luna batting, Rapoport scored to make it a 5-1 Cardinals' lead when Piazza threw a wild pitch. Piazza ended up walking Luna, but struck out Cox to end the inning.
The Travs scored an unearned run to make it 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Roberto Lopez reached second base when his pop up was dropped by the second baseman Curtis. Third baseman Gabe Jacobo hit an RBI single to center field scoring Lopez.
Additon (3-0, 3.04) got the win giving up two unearned runs on two hits, striking out five with two walks. Kopp picked up his third save of the year giving up two hits in a scoreless ninth.
Jacobo hit a one-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning and scored on Matt Cusick's triple over the center fielder's head to make it 5-3. Catcher Orlando Mercado hit Springfield reliever Jorge Rondon's first pitch to center field that scored Cusick for a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-4 Travs' deficit.
Reliever Loek Van Mil pitched three scoreless innings without giving up a hit. He walked one while striking out two.
Both teams made three errors apiece and the Travs left eight men on base while hitting 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position. The Cardinals went 3 for 13 with RISP and left nine men on in a three hour and six minute game. The Travs outhit the Cardinals 7 to 5.
Jacobo went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run, and Cusick went 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run.
Cox went 2 for 4 to lead the Cardinals and Curtis and Jones each went 1 for 3 with an RBI.
The Travs play the second game of the three-game set on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Dickey-Stephens Park. Righty Matt Shoemaker (9-2, 2.11) starts for the Travs while righty Michael Blazek (10-4, 5.77) gets the start for the Cardinals.
Shoemaker got a no-decision in his last start on July 29 against the Tulsa Drillers. He pitched five and two-third innings, his lowest inning output since he pitched five and two-thirds on May 14. He didn't give up a run, but labored throwing 110 pitches, on six hits and three walks while striking out seven. Blazek got the win against the Northwest Arkansas his last start on July 29. He gave up three runs on six hits in six and two-third innings. He struck out seven and walked three. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 and gates open at 6:10.
Texas League Stories from August 3, 2011
- Travelers Offense Powers Passed Cardinals 11-7 - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Survive Late Scare, Beat Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Top Drillers 5-4 - Tulsa Drillers
- Hernandez, Carroll Lead Missions To Victory - San Antonio Missions
- Frisco Cruises Past RockHounds To Even Series - Frisco RoughRiders
- Paulino Activated, Several Others Rehab - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, August 3 - Corpus Christi at San Antonio - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals to be Televised Regionally by KC Metro Sports - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Former Natural Hosmer Selected as AL Rookie of the Month - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Drop First Game of Series Vs. Cardinals - Arkansas Travelers
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