Travs Run Away From Tulsa Early
Published on July 31, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
TULSA, OKLAHOMA - The Arkansas Travelers rode the strength of a nine-run first inning en route to a 12-4 blowout of the Tulsa Drillers to open their seven-game road trip on Friday night. Coby Smith blasted a pair of two-run homers (4, 5) in the first inning and finished 3-for-5. Shortstop Hainley Statia also collected three base hits and drove in three runs. Travs righty Tim Kiely (W, 3-1) threw seven innings for the win allowing a pair of home runs by Drillers right fielder Ryan Harvey (13, 14). The victory is the Travs' fifth in their last eight games and their third in four against Tulsa.
Smith became the third Traveler to bash two homers in a game during the 2009 season joining Val Majewski and Flint Wipke. Shortstop Hainley Statia also added three base hits and four RBI, while third baseman Chris Gutierrez and Nate Sutton also had three base hits.
The first inning was a monumental rally where the Travs sent 14 batters to the plate and collected ten base hits off Drillers losing pitcher Keith Weiser (L, 7-10). On Monday at Dickey-StephensPark, Weiser had one of his finest outings of the season lasting eight innings and allowed just one run on three base hits, but he only lasted two innings on Friday night and absorbed ten runs and 12 basr hits.
The game began with a clean single to centerfield by Peter Bourjos. Smith worked a 3-1 count from Weiser and blasted the next pitch high above the left field fence for a 2-0 lead. Sutton followed with a hard single to right field before the first out of the inning. Hank Conger caught a break when his soft flare crossed up the Tulsa defenders who were playing him towards right-center. The ball landed in shallow right field driving in Sutton while Conger hustled to second base with a double. After hitting Val Majewski with a pitch, Weiser allowed a bloop single by Gutierrez to load the bases. Conger scored from third base when Ryan Mount's fielder's choice forced Gutierrez at second. Statia then began a string of five consecutive base hits with a two-run double shot past third base. The second single of the inning by Bourjos knocked in Statia, then Smith yanked his second two-run homer of the night to left for a 9-0 lead. Sutton and Mark Trumbo kept the rally going with singles, but Conger grounded out to end the frame.
The Travs added a run in the second inning on an RBI single that drove home Gutierrez after a double.
All four of Tulsa's runs came on Harvey's home runs, his fourth and fifth against Arkansas during the 2009 season. Harvey ripped home runs off Kiely in the second and sixth inning.
Statia's RBI single in the ninth inning drove in Gutierrez with the game's final run.
Time of game was 2:42 and the paid attendance was 8,217.
The Travs will go for their third straight win over Tulsa on Saturday night at Drillers Stadium. Righty Marco Albano (1-5, 4.04) will take the hill for Arkansas while Tulsa counters with lefty Kurt Birkins (0-0, 3.86). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
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