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TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Travs' Rally Falls Short In 4-3 Loss

August 11, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers (24-23, 55-62) blew a lead, then rallied to get within a run only to leave the tying runs in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings in a 4-3 loss to the San Antonio Missions (26-19, 57-58). Chad Huffman's eighth-inning RBI triple gave the Missions the lead, then he scored on a sacrifice fly from Drew Macias putting San Antonio ahead by two runs. The Travs got back within a run in the eighth inning thanks to a bad-hop RBI single by Brad Coon. San Antonio RHP Neil Jamison got Ben Johnson on a groundout to leave the go-ahead runs on base in the eighth inning. RHP Edwin Moreno (3) saved it by getting Coon to pop out with the winning runs on base in the ninth. RHP Jon Searles (2-3) tossed two hitless relief innings to earn the win, while Travs RHP Bill Edwards (4-3) was touched for two runs on one hit and two walks in one inning for the loss. Coby Smith reached base five times on three base hits and two walks, plus two runs scored. The Travs remain one game behind Springfield for the North Division lead, but fall 2.5 games behind Tulsa for a wildcard spot.

Arkansas RHP Fernando Rodriguez and San Antonio LHP Wade Leblanc tossed two shutout innings, each retiring seven in a row. Smith hit a single with two outs in the third inning followed by a walk to Coon. They executed a double steal and both scored when Adam Morrissey lined a single to left.

Rodriguez slipped through the first four innings without allowing a run. He left runners at second and third base in the third inning, then left the bases loaded in the fourth. San Antonio SS Luis Cruz opened the fifth with a double to the left-field corner. Matt Antonelli followed with a bloop single to center moving Cruz to third base. Will Venable's sacrifice fly brought the Missions within a 2-1 score.

Leblanc left the game after the fifth inning and allowed just two runs on four base hits. Searles was nearly perfect in his two innings allowing just a leadoff walk in the sixth inning.

Rodriguez gave way to RHP David Austen after tossing six effective innings allowing just one run on six hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Antonelli hit Austen's first pitch of the seventh inning down the third-base line and beat a throw to second base for a double. Austen then threw a wild pitch moving the tying run to third. He recovered to strikeout the next two batters, but Brett Bonvechio battled Austen to a 3-2 count before slapping a single off the left-field wall to send in Antontelli for a 2-2 tie.

Edwards came out for the eighth and issued a leadoff walk to Tim Brown, who was replaced by Brett Dowdy as a pinch runner. With Dowdy running, Huffman whacked a drive to the centerfield warning track for a go-ahead triple. Macias's sacrifice fly gave the Missions a 4-2 lead.

LHP Kyle Stutes took the mound for the eighth inning, and Smith hit a leadoff double. Coon then pulled a grounder along the first-base line and it took a bounce off Dowdy's glove and rolled a couple of feet away. Smith charged around third base and scored ahead of the throw getting the Travs within a 4-3 score. Jamison was summoned from the pen and Coon ran on the 1-1 pitch to Morrissey. He hit a hard grounder to the left of second base handled by Cruz for a 6-3 double play. Although Freddy Sandoval followed with a single and a steal of second base, Johnson rolled to first base to end the inning.

Moreno entered the game for the ninth, and DH Corey Myers lined a leadoff single to center. Ryan Leahy pinch ran and was bunted to second base by Mike Collins. Pinch-hitter Matt Pali popped out, but Moreno put the winning run on base with a walk to Smith. Coon then ended the game with a pop up to the infield.

Time of game was 3:09 and the paid attendance was 4,941.

The second game of this three-game series is set for Sunday night. RHP Brok Butcher (1-1, 5.26 ERA) takes the hill for the Travs while San Antonio counters with RHP Will Inman (2-0, 1.35 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. and the gates open at 4:00 p.m.

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