Travs outslug Cards
Published on June 9, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Hammons Field, Springfield, MO - The Travs moved into first place all alone with a 12-2 beating of the Springfield Cardinals on Monday night. Eight runs scored in the top of the second inning as the Travs sent 13 batters to the plate. Nate Sutton (4) hit the Travs' first grand slam of the season in the second inning, while C Ben Johnson ripped a two-run shot (13). Drew Toussaint (3) and Brian Stavisky (4) also homered, and Dan Denham (5-5)tossed seven effective innings for the win.
With Northwest Arkansas's loss at Tulsa, the Travs are a game in front of both Springfield and the Naturals with eight games left in the first half of the season.
Denham beat Springfield for the second time allowing just one run over seven innings on four base hits and three strikeouts. Denham retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced. Springfield starter RHP Mark McCormick (0-1) was knocked from the game in the second inning allowing eight runs in 1.2 innings.
Stavisky opened the second inning with a hard single to center then McCormick walked Brian Walker. Cards RF Mark Shorey misplayed a line drive single by Corey Smith allowing a run to score giving the Travs a 1-0 lead. Drew Toussaint drew a one-out walk to load the bases and bring Sutton to the plate. He lined his grand slam over the right-field wall on a 1-0 pitch for a 5-0 lead. After a single by Mike Collins, Johnson hammered his 13th home run of the year past right field for a 7-0 lead.
McCormick was replaced by RHP Kyle Sadlowski after walking Stavisky. A single by Walker put runners at first and second, then Smith doubled to score Stavisky with the Travs' eighth run.
The Cards got their only run against Denham in the third inning. Tyler Greene hit a leadoff double and scored when Jon Jay got a bloop single into center.
Springfield had RHP Kyle Sadlowski replace McCormick in the second inning. He held the Travs to no runs until Toussaint hit a high drive down the left-field line for a home run.
The Travs got three more runs in the ninth inning against RHP Marco Gonzalez, who had thrown 8.2 hitless innings against Arkansas until giving up an RBI double by Johnson and a two-run homer by Stavisky.
Time of game was 2:43 and the paid attendance was 5,154.
NOTES: The eight-run second inning is the largest rally by the Travs in the 2008 season...Toussaint extended hit hitting streak to 11 games finishing 2-for-4...Johnson is tied for second in the league with 13 homers and ranks second with 52 RBI...
BOXSCORE
The Travs and Cardinals battle in the third game of the series on Tuesday night. Arkansas has RHP Anthony Ortega (6-3, 3.93) toeing the rubber against Springfield RHP Jess Todd (1-1, 1.00). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 9, 2008
- Travs outslug Cards - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers win second straight - Tulsa Drillers
- Douglass Dazzles in Shutout - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards lose big to begin week - Springfield Cardinals
- Rough Riders knock off Midland - Frisco RoughRiders
- Texas League Newsletter - TL1
- Naturals, CCF Brands Partner on Free Baseball Clinic - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Wood Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- July Celebration at Citibank Ballpark - Midland RockHounds
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