Travs No-Hit, Ground into Triple Play in Loss
Published on July 19, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals faced the minimum and used two pitchers in no-hitting the Travelers, defeating them 1-0 on Tuesday, July 19, in front of an announced crowd of 4,112 at Dickey-Stephens Park. The Travs lost their third consecutive game and have been held hitless in their last 12 innings. The no-hitter and triple play were the first in the Naturals' four-year history.
Naturals' lefty Will Smith's perfect game came to an end in the bottom of the sixth inning when he walked Clay Fuller on six pitches. Smith walked the next batter Orlando Mercado on 11 pitches to put runners on first and second with no outs. Catcher Alberto Rosario attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt twice and then grounded into the first triple play in Dickey-Stephens Park's five-year history. Rosario grounded it to the third baseman Mario Lisson, who stepped on third base to start the 5-4-3 triple play allowing Smith to still face the minimum.
Smith (8-7, 3.93) threw 101 pitches through seven innings and was relieved by righty Kelvin Herrera in the bottom of the eighth inning. Herrera continued the no-hitter pitching two innings and striking out two without a walk. Smith got the win striking out five and walking two and Herrera picked up his seventh save of the year.
Third baseman Luis Jimenez made two errors in the top of the first inning with one out that led to an unearned run. Christian Colon hit a grounder to Jimenez which he bobbled for an error and his throw went out of play, allowing Colon to take second base for the second error. After Travs starter Matt Shoemaker struck out Wil Myers looking, first baseman Jamie Romak dropped a single in front of center fielder Clay Fuller to score Colon for a 1-0 Naturals' lead.
Shoemaker (8-2, 2.28) took the tough loss pitching a complete game. He gave up five hits and the unearned run, striking out eight without a walk while throwing 106 pitches. In his last three outings, Shoemaker is 2-1 with a 0.36 ERA, giving up 11 hits and four walks in 25 innings. He has struck out 16 batters in that span.
The Travs (13-11) made four errors in the game. Jimenez made the two errors on the same play in the first inning and Rosario made two errors, one in the second inning and one in the fourth that did not result in any damage being done.
Romak went 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Naturals which hit 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base. The Travs had one runner in scoring position from the consecutive walks, but the triple play in the sixth inning erased the runners. The Travs did not leave any men on base and batted 0 for 1 with RISP in a game that lasted two hours and 15 minutes.
The Travs look to end their three-game skid when they play the Naturals (11-13) in the third game of the four-game series on Wednesday, July 20, at Dickey-Stephens Park. Righty Garrett Richards (10-1, 3.27) will start for the Travs and righty Jeremy Jeffress (0-0, --) will start for the Naturals.
Richards got the no-decision against Tulsa his last time out on July 15. He gave up four runs on five hits and two walks in seven innings while striking out four. Jeffress was recently sent down from Triple A Omaha where he posted a 2-3 record with a 7.13 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 and gates open at 6:10.
Texas League Stories from July 19, 2011
- Roughriders Hold Missions Offense In Check During 6-1 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Missions Fall To Roughriders 6-1 - San Antonio Missions
- Cardinals Fall to Drillers 17-11 - Springfield Cardinals
- Seven Home Runs Help Drillers Win Third Straight - Tulsa Drillers
- Wieland, Roughriders Shut Down San Antonio - Frisco RoughRiders
- Travs No-Hit, Ground into Triple Play in Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals No-Hit the Travelers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, July 19 - Midland at Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Kraft Singles 2-For-1 Tickets Tonight - Arkansas Travelers
- Jeremy Jeffress Joins Naturals' Roster - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Spurs Caravan August 5 at Whataburger Field - Corpus Christi Hooks
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