Travs Head into All-Star Break with Walk-Off Loss to NWA
Published on June 25, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Following consecutive shutouts to the hands of the Arkansas Travelers, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals ended their 20-inning scoring drought by pushing across a run in the first inning on Monday afternoon, and eventually sent themselves into the All-Star break on a high note with a 3-2 walk-off win in front of an attendance of 4080 at Arvest Ballpark.
Responsible for the Naturals' (3-3, 40-36) lengthy scoring drought was tremendous pitching from several Travelers' (3-3, 30-46) pitchers. During the scoreless stretch, six Travs pitchers combined to hold the Naturals to just 5 base hits.
On Monday, the Naturals would collect two hits in the first inning off Travs' starter Matt Oye. A one-out single by Rey Navarro in the bottom of the first inning set the table for the remainder of the inning. The following batter, Brian Fletcher, drew a walk to put runners on first and second base. Following an infield fly off the bat off John Whittleman that put the infield fly rule into effect, Paulo Orlando delivered a two-out single to right-centerfield to score Navarro from second base. Oye would bounce back as he needed only one pitch to get Carlo Testa to fly out to Travis Witherspoon in centerfield, stranding a pair of runners.
Oye, who pitched eight shutout innings of three-hit ball in his last start against Springfield last Wednesday, would allow at least one hit in each of the next five innings after the first inning, but the Naturals were only able to cross the plate once more off Oye as Lorenzo Cain hit a solo homerun to left field in the fifth inning. Oye, would end up working eight innings against the Naturals, giving up eight hits, two earned runs, and walking one.
The first homerun as a Traveler by Witherspoon in the top of the sixth inning broke a string of 14 consecutive Travs' batters to be sat down by Naturals' starter Sugar Ray Marimon, and brought the Travs to within a run, 2-1. Marimon, who was making his Double-A debut would exit the game after reached on a single to lead off the seventh inning. Marimon's first Double-A outing was impressive as he allowed four hits, one earned run, issued no walks, and struck out four.
Marimon would give way to Ryan Dennick. Dennick would retire Roberto Lopez, Ryan Mount, and Casey Haerther in order to work around Osuna's leadoff single. Another perfect inning in the eighth inning by Dennick kept him alive for the save as the Travelers still trailed 2-1 I in the game.
A groundout by Witherspoon became the seventh straight batter faced and retired by Dennick. The Travs would finally break through against Dennick in the following at-bat as Jean Segura turned a 1-2 pitch by Dennick around for a game-tying solo homerun to left field. The Segura would be the only hit the Travs would tally against Dennick as he got Osuna to line out and Lopez to groundout to end the inning.
The left-handed arm of Andrew Taylor was the first option out of the bullpen following Oye's eight strong innings. Pitching in a tie game, 2-all, Taylor was charged with pitching to middle of the Naturals lineup, scheduled to face the 4-5-6 hitters. A groundout of Whittleman and swinging strikeout of Orlando got Taylor two quick outs as he was trying to force extra-innings. On the pitch following Orlando's strikeout, Taylor hit Testa to put him on base as the winning run. Mario Lisson then reached base as well as he drew a full-count walk to move Testa into scoring position. Falling behind, 0-2, Alex McClure played hero as he found the hole through the left side of the infield to score Testa for the walk-off win.
The tough loss send the Travelers into a three-day break as the 2012 Texas League All-Star Game is slated to be played on Thursday, June 28th at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four Traveler; Roberto Lopez, Ariel Pena, A.J. Schugel, and Jean Segura will represent the Travelers in the game as members of the North Division Team.
The Travelers will be back in action the night after the All-Star game as they open a six-game home stand on Friday, June 29th, starting with a three-game set against the Midland Rockhounds. First pitch on Friday is set for 7:10 pm at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Texas League Stories from June 25, 2012
- Three Run Fourth Helps 'Riders Avoid Sweep - Frisco RoughRiders
- Game Notes, June 25 at Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Head into All-Star Break with Walk-Off Loss to NWA - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Head into Break with Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Beat Drillers 5-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- McClure Makes It Count - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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