Travs Fall Behind Early, Lose 5-4
June 25, 2004 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Wichita, KS- The Wichita Wranglers (39-32, 2-0) scored five runs in two innings and held on for a 5-4 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (33-38, 0-2). Travs LHP Tim Bittner (6-3) walked five batters in two innings along with five runs and five hits to suffer the loss. Arkansas 1B Mike Eylward homered (4) and went 2-2 with three RBI, while LF Jason Aspito collected three singles. Lacking the clutch hit however, the Travs left nine runners on base and went 2-14 with a runner in scoring position. While Bittner struggled, the Travs bullpen shined to hold Wichita to just four baserunners over the final six innings. Wichita LHP Shaun Shiery (2-0) picked up the win in relief of RHP Kevin Appier, who allowed all four Travs runs in four innings. The loss is the Travs' sixth consecutive.
Bittner's control problems affected him as four of his walks came back to score. Norris Hopper drew a leadoff walk in the first inning, moved to second base on a single and to third on a double play. A soft grounder hit by Scott Walter past 3B Victor Gutierrez scored Hopper for a 1-0 lead.
Appier retired the first two batters of the second inning before Aspito beat a grounder for a single. Eylward followed with a line drive home run to left field for a 2-1 Travs lead.
The Wranglers loaded the bases with one out on Bittner thanks to three walks. SS Andres Blanco tied the game with an RBI single to left field, and 2B Ruben Gotay knocked in two more runs with a base hit to right for a 4-2 Wichita lead. Brandon Berger knocked in Wichita' final run with a sacrifice fly for a 5-2 lead.
Appier kept the Travs scoreless in the third inning, but with one out in the fourth Rudy Gomez reached on a single and advanced to second on a base hit by Aspito. Eylward then grounded a single to left field to score Gomez. Eylward was forced out at second base on a fielder's choice hit by Travs 3B Victor Gutierrez, but Blanco threw the relay past first base to bring Aspito home for a 5-4 score. The Travs left Gutierrez at third base in the inning.
Shiery replaced Appier for the fifth inning and left runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings. The Travs' best chance to tie the game was in the seventh inning after SS Alberto Callaspo reached on a leadoff double. RHP Mike Natale however retired the next three batters in order.
The Travs bullpen was outstanding as RHP Rich Fischer pitched three shutout innings. RHP Mark O'Sullivan held Wichita to just one hit over two innings, while LHP Jonathon Rouwenhorst tossed a scoreless eighth.
Wichita RHP Jorge Vasquez pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 11th save.
The game was played in 2:55 and the paid attendance was 1,525.
To view the boxscore, please click here.
The third game of this four-game series is set for Friday night with LHP Willie Collazo (1-5, 5.98 ERA) pitching against RHP Jimmy Serrano (1-0, 1.08 ERA). The first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 25, 2004
- Travs Lose Ten-Inning Pitchers Duel, 1-0 - Arkansas Travelers
- Wandy does in RockHounds before water comes - Round Rock Express
- Hooks Update - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Fall Behind Early, Lose 5-4 - Arkansas Travelers
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