Travs Need 11 to Take First Game of Playoffs
Published on September 7, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock - Travs' shortstop Darwin Perez hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to score Blake Gailen from second base and give the Travs a 2-1 win over the Northwest Arkansas in game one of the opening round of the Texas League North division playoffs. The right-fielder Wil Myers' throw beat Gailen to the plate, but it pulled catcher Ben Theriot just off the plate allowing Gailen to slide in safely.
Gailen reached on a two-out single off of Naturals' left-handed reliever Blaine Hardy, and catcher Alberto Rosario followed with a walk before Perez hit the game-winner in front of an announced crowd of 2,439.
The Naturals loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 11th, but Travs' reliever David Carpenter struck out Paulo Orlando and got Wil Myers to pop up to the third baseman Luis Jimenez to end the threat and strand the runners.
Carpenter (1-0, 0.00) picked up the win pitching two-thirds of an inning, and Hardy got the loss after striking out the first two batters in the bottom of the 11th. Hardy (0-1, 13.50) gave up the winning run on two hits and a walk.
Texas League Pitcher of the Year Matt Shoemaker's start to the playoffs wasn't conducive to his award. The Naturals scored a run without a hit in the top of the first inning when Shoemaker walked leadoff man Derrick Robinson and hit No. 2 batter Christian Colon with a pitch to put runners at first and second base with no outs.
First baseman Anthony Seratelli sacrifice bunted the runners to second and third, and designated hitter Tim Smith picked up an RBI ground out to the second baseman scoring Robinson to give the Naturals a 1-0 lead.
In Shoemaker's last three starts of the regular season, he went 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA. He gave up 23 hits and four walks in 16 innings, while striking out just eight.
Naturals' left starter Chris Dwyer got the first two outs of the bottom of the first inning before third baseman Luis Jimenez singled to right field. Jimenez stole second base and got to third when Seratelli dropped shortstop Colon's throw for an error to extend the inning. Designated hitter Roberto Lopez hit an infield single to score Jimenez with an unearned run and tie the score 1-1.
Shoemaker gave up his first hit of the game on Orlando's two-out, bloop double to center field in the top of the fourth. Orlando reached third on a passed ball, but Tim Myers grounded out to third to end the inning.
Both starters settled down after the first inning, both working quickly, as Shoemaker retired 19 of the next 21 - a double and a walk - Naturals, including nine in a row, after hitting Colon with a pitch. Dwyer retired 15 of 18, all on walks, since giving up Lopez' RBI single.
Dwyer gave up an unearned run on two hits for the no-decision. He struck out seven and walked three.
Shoemaker was also sharp after the first inning. He got the no-decision giving up one run on two hits, striking out seven with two walks.
The Travs loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning without a hit, but failed to capitalize. Reliever Brendan Lafferty walked leadoff man Matt Long on four pitches and Dwayne Bailey sacrifice bunted him to second base for the first out.
Lafferty intentionally walked Jimenez to set up a double play and Gabe Jacobo struck out for the second out. Lopez walked to load the bases before Chris Pettit flew out to center field on reliever Kendal Volz' first pitch of the at bat, stranding three.
Travs' 7'1" right-handed reliever Loek Van Mil pitched three and one-third scoreless innings giving up one hit. He struck out three and walked four.
The Travs outhit the Naturals 6 to 4 while batting 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 men on base. The Naturals were 1 for 7 with RISP and left eight men on in a game that lasted 3-hours, 33-minutes.
Perez went 2 for 4 with the game-winning RBI and laid down a sacrifice bunt. Gailen went 2 for 5 while scoring the winning run.
Smith went 1 for 5 for the Naturals with and RBI and Robinson went 1 for 3 with a run and two walks.
Travs' right-hander, Christian Scholl, will take on Naturals' right-hander, Jake Odorizzi, in game two of the TL playoffs on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Dickey-Stephens Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 and gates open at 6:10.
Texas League Stories from September 7, 2011
- Travs Need 11 to Take First Game of Playoffs - Arkansas Travelers
- Travs Take Tight Game One in Extras - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Take Game One With 3-0 Shutout - San Antonio Missions
- Wieland Bests Ross, 'Riders in Game 1 Thriller - Frisco RoughRiders
- Trout Player of the Year - Arkansas Travelers
- Playoff Preview: First-Round In-State Showdown - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Playoff Promotional Highlights - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Two New Pitchers Join Naturals for Playoffs - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- CtC Mixer Friday, September 9 - Corpus Christi Hooks
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