Travs Earn First Win 6-3
Published on April 12, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Citibank Ballpark, Midland, TX - After starting the season 0-7 the Arkansas Travelers broke through with their first victory of the season by dumping the Midland RockHounds 6-3. RHP Anthony Ortega (1-1) was solid in earning the victory holding the league's top offense to two runs on four base hits and three walks in seven innings. Ortega, who lost to Midland last week, struck out seven batters. Arkansas 3B Corey Smith homered (1) and drove in three runs, while 2B Nate Sutton delivered three hits and one RBI.
Midland starter LHP Danny Borrell (1-1) was very wild over a two-inning start issuing four walks and hitting a batter. He allowed five runs (four earned) on four walks and four base hits. Coby Smith legged out an infield single to begin the game and stole second base. Hainley Statia laid a sacrifice bunt, which Borrell threw wild to first base for an error. Smith came home from third when Jordan Czarniecki bounced out to second base. Borrell issued two walks with two outs before Sutton chopped slowly to short and beat the throw for an RBI single.
Coby Smith was hit by a pitch with one out in the second inning, then the Travs loaded the bases with a single by Statia and a walk to Czarniecki. Mike Collins brought in Smith with a fielder's choice to shortstop then Borrell walked Aaron Peel to bring Corey Smith up with the bases loaded. Smith fouled away five consecutive pitches in an 11-pitch at-bat before whacking a single up the middle. Two runs scored on the play and Peel also tried to score from first base but was cut down at the plate. Peel left the game after colliding with Midland C Anthony Recker.
Leading 5-0 in the second inning, Ortega gave up a run as Recker hit a leadoff triple and scored on a groundout by John Zeringue. Jesus Guzman began the third inning with a home run (2) to right closing the Travs' lead to 5-2. But Ortega buckled down and set down 12 of the last 13 batters he faced as the Travs offense was quieted for five innings by Midland's bullpen.
RHP Von Stertzbach came in to protect the lead in the seventh, but walked Justin Sellers. A wild pitch and two groundouts scored Sellers to cut the Travs' lead to 5-3, but Corey Smith sent an opposite field rocket over the right field fence in the eighth inning against RHP Kristian Bell to put Arkansas ahead 6-3.
RHP Kevin Jepsen had to come on in the eighth after Stertzbach issued a walk and allowed a single bringing the tying run to the plate. Jepsen struck out Recker and got Zeringue to fly to center ending the threat. Jepsen tossed a scoreless ninth for his first class-AA save.
Time of game was 3:03 and the paid attendance was 5,069.
Texas League Stories from April 12, 2008
- Cards Fall Saturday, Head to Midland Sunday - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Cooled by Missions - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Earn First Win 6-3 - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Top Drillers in Classic Fashion - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hooks Top Drillers Again - Tulsa Drillers
- Norris, Hart Lead Hooks Past Drillers - Corpus Christi Hooks
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