Travs Drop Slugfest with Springfield
Published on July 31, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A wild, back and forth game that saw four lead changes, 20 total runs, and 30 combined hits ended in 10 innings with an 11-9 win for the Springfield Cardinals over the Arkansas Travelers on Tuesday night at Dickey-Stevens Park.
The Cardinals (25-12, 60-47) began the high-scoring affair as they jumped out to an early 4-0 lead over the Travelers (20-18, 47-61) through the first two and a half innings of play. The Travs would respond in a big way to the early hole in the bottom of the third inning as the platted four runs to knot the game at four-all.
Prior to the rally in the third inning, the Travelers had put the leadoff man on base in each of the first two innings, but failed to build on it as they saw that runner get quickly taken off the base paths due to a double play on the next batter. In the third inning, the Travs continued the streak when Brian Hernandez doubled to lead off the third inning, but much to the delight of the 3,894 in attendance, the third inning was much different from the first two. Alberto Rosario followed Hernandez's double with a single that moved Hernandez to third base. After a putout of Darwin Perez, Travis Witherspoon drew a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with one out. A RBI fielder's choice by Renny Osuna scored Hernandez and put the Travs on the board. Batting with two on and two outs, Paul McAnulty launched a no-doubt three-run homerun to right field to tie the game.
The Travs would keep the scoring momentum going two innings later as they scored three runs on four hits in the fifth inning to take a 7-4 lead. The second big inning of the night capped a streak of seven unanswered runs scored by the Travs after they fell behind 4-0.
A two-run homerun by the Cardinals' Greg Garcia in the top of the sixth inning cut the Travs' lead to 7-6. In the bottom of the frame, the Travs were able to increase their lead to 8-6 when Darwin Perez connected for a two-out solo homerun to right field.
A RBI single by Audry Perez in the top of the eighth inning once again brought the Cards to within a run, 8-7. After keeping the Travs from adding any insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Cardinals took their first lead since early in the game in the top of the ninth inning as Xavier Scruggs and G. Garcia each notched RBIs, giving the Cardinals a 9-8 lead. The Cardinal runs in the ninth inning came off of Travs' closer Kevin Johnson, who entered the game with one out in the eighth inning. The blown save was Johnson's second in his last three attempts.
Now playing with a late lead, the Cardinals called upon Jorge Rondon to close out the game in the ninth. Osuna, who had a pair of RBIs and runs scored already in the game, led the inning off with a double. With the next batter McAnulty in the box, Osuna advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Rondon to put the tying run at third base with no outs. A pitch later, Osuna was able to score that tying run as Rondon uncorked another wild pitch. Rondon would recover from his bout of wildness to get out the ninth inning with the scored tied at nine-all.
In the top of the 10th inning, the Cardinals took an 11-9 lead as Jose Garcia cashed in a pair of runs when he singled with the bases loaded and one out off of Caleb Graham. The Travs would get a two-out single by D. Perez, but a groundout of Witherspoon in the ensuing at-bat ended the 3:28 game.
Despite taking a blown save, Rondon is credited with the win and improves to 2-1 on the season. Keith Butler pitched in the 10th for the Cardinals and collects his 22 save. Graham is the losing pitcher and falls to 1-2 on the year.
The two teams will be back at on Wednesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park for the second of their three-game set. First pitch is set for 7:10 pm.
Texas League Stories from July 31, 2012
- Travs Drop Slugfest with Springfield - Arkansas Travelers
- Northwest Arkansas Takes Opener from Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Beat Travs 11-9 in 10 Innings - Springfield Cardinals
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- Pina Punishes Drillers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Piazza Tabbed as Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Arkansas Travelers
- Maronde to Bolster Travs' Starting Rotation - Arkansas Travelers
- Game Notes, July 31 vs. San Antonio - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Sam Runion Joins Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Offense Awakens in 9-3 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Pink Jersey Auction Auction over $5,000 for Local Non-Profit Organization - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Rangers Acquire C Geovany Soto and Cash from Cubs for RHP Jake Brigham - Frisco RoughRiders
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