Travs Fall 1-0 to Missions
Published on May 23, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
San Antonio, Texas - For the first time in the 2013 season the Arkansas Travelers ended up on the wrong side of a 1-0 ballgame against the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium. Jake Blackwood drove in the only run with a seventh-inning double scoring Johan Limonta from first base. The Travs outhit San Antonio 10 to 8, but made four outs on the bases and left eight runners going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Matt Wisler (2-1) and two relievers combined on the shutout for the Missions with Wisler going seven innings for the first time in his career. Travs right hander Manny Correa (2-4) took the tough loss allowing just one run in seven innings on eight base hits and a season-high seven strikeouts against just one walk.
Both starting pitchers delivered just one perfect inning for the night and received plenty of help from their fielders.
Randal Grichuk threw out Raymond Fuentes at third base after the Missions leadoff batter hit a sharp comebacker that Correa threw away in the first inning. Grichuk though, after leading off the second inning with a single, was pegged by Rico Noel attempting to advance to third base on Taylor Lindsey's ensuing single. Lindsey was stranded at second base when Travis Witherspoon and Anthony Bemboom grounded out.
Noel bunted his way on base to begin the fourth inning but was picked off by Correa. Meanwhile Witherspoon hit a high chop single to begin the fifth inning over third base and was thrown out at second by left fielder Everett Williams.
Kaleb Cowart, who finished 2-for-4, hit his first triple of the season with one out in the sixth. Wisler though got C.J. Cron to pop out and Robbie Widlansky to fly to left field to end the threat.
The Travs once again threatened Wisler in the seventh when Grichuk hit a leadoff double. Wisler then hit Lindsey with a pitch putting two runners on base for Witherspoon, who failed to get down a bunt. On a 3-2 pitch Wisler struck out Witherspoon and Grichuk was caught stealing third base by catcher Rocky Gale for a double play. Bemboom flied to left field to keep the score 0-0.
Quickly San Antonio threatened Correa when John Limonta hit a seventh-inning leadoff single. Blackwood then doubled to right-center and Limonta scored as Witherspoon's throw from centerfield sailed over the cutoff man. With one out, Blackwood was tagged out at third on A.J. Kirby-Jones's fielder's choice. But pinch runner Kalian Sams stole second and tried to score on Jeudy Valdez's third base hit of the night, a single to left field. Sams though missed third base and was called out on an appeal keeping the Missions to just a 1-0 lead.
Missions reliever Matt Stites replaced Wisler in the eighth inning and allowed Jimmy Swift to reach on an infield single. Pinch runner Rolando Gomez was quickly caught stealing second by Gale for the first out. Drew Heid struck out before Cowart hit a single. Cron grounded to second base to end that inning.
Kevin Quackenbush came on for the ninth inning and issued a leadoff walk to Widlansky. Grichuk hit a sharp line out to centerfield, but Lindsey singled to move the tying run to second base. Witherspoon hit a grounder to shortstop and Lindsey was forced at second base. Witherspoon beat the relay to keep the game alive, but Quackenbush ended the game getting Bemboom to fly out to left field for his eighth save.
The Missions go for the sweep on Friday night sending Lay Batista (2-4, 3.83) to the mound against Missions right hander Donn Roach (2-4, 5.74). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from May 23, 2013
- 'Riders Even Series in 1-0 Pitcher's Duel - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Unable to Overcome Big Innings - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Fall 1-0 to Missions - Arkansas Travelers
- Pimentel Flirts with History in One-Hit Shutout, 1-0 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Wisler Impresses in Missions' 1-0 Win over Travelers - San Antonio Missions
- Nick McBride Bolsters Pitching Staff - Frisco RoughRiders
- Meet Hooks Players at H-E-B this Weekend - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Brett Hunter Returns; Miles Head to the DL - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Plate Seven in 5th Inning; Hounds Fall - Midland RockHounds
- Missions Take First Game of Series 4-2 - San Antonio Missions
- Hooks Relish Homecoming - Corpus Christi Hooks
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