TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Travs Stun Frisco 10-8

Published on April 16, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco, TX - The Arkansas Travelers (3-9) came from three runs behind in the eighth inning to stun the Frisco RoughRiders (9-3) in ten innings by a final score of 10-8. Run scoring singles in the tenth inning by Ben Johnson and Jordan Czarniecki gave the Travs the winning runs. Pinch-runner Nate Sutton scored the winning run in the ninth on an infield single by Tim Duff. RHP Kevin Jepsen (1-0) threw three dominating shutout innings with seven strikeouts for the victory. Travs 1B Michael Collins homered (1) and drove in five runs to lead the Travs' 11-hit attack. The Travs achieved a four-game split in their series at Frisco and wrap up their seven-game road trip 3-4.

The Travs survived the night allowing four Riders' home runs and a tough outing from starting pitcher RHP Fernando Rodriguez. Frisco came back from a 4-0 deficit to build an 8-5 lead before the Travs began their resurgence in the eighth.

Frisco RHP Brennan Garr entered the game in the eighth and retired two batters before getting wild issuing two walks and hitting one batter to load the bases. Collins punched a single to right bringing home Cody Fuller and Coby Smith to get the Travs' within one run.

The Riders tried LHP Chris Michalak in the ninth inning and he had the Travs down to their last strike with nobody on base when Adam Morrissey collected hit first hit of the season, a hard single to center. Sutton replaced him as the runner and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Duff hit a grounder that Adam Fox stopped behind second base with a dive. Duff beat his throw to first base and Sutton slid into the plate just ahead of a throw to tie the game.

Michalak (1-1) remained in the game and allowed the winning runs to reach base with consecutive walks in the tenth. Johnson's game-winning single was his first hit of the series. Czarniecki's RBI single ended a 1-for-15 slide.

Things got off to a quick start for the Travs as Coby Smith drew a leadoff walk after falling behind 0-2. Hainley Statia singled him to second base before LHP Matt Harrison got ahead of Collins 0-2. But Collins whacked the next pitch for a line drive home run to left field for a 3-0 Travs lead.

Collins led off the third inning with a sharp single to center, but was caught stealing when Harrison threw to first base with Collins running. Chris Davis whipped a wild throw past second base and Collins advanced to third on the error. Corey Smith chased Collins home with a single to left for a 4-0 lead. Right after his single, Smith attempted to steal second base but Harrison crossed him up and tried to pick him off. First base umpire Brian Sinclair called a balk on the pitcher, and Frisco manager Scott Little came out to argue. After a few minutes Sinclair walked away from Little and he followed him, subsequently getting ejected for the first time this season.

Rodriguez retired the first six Frisco hitters of the game, but Adam Fox changed that by hitting the first pitch of the third over the left field wall (2). A one-out walk put Craig Gentry aboard, then Frisco cut the Travs' lead to 4-3 when Max Ramirez homered to left.

After leaving two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth inning, Rodriguez returned for the fifth and fell into trouble hitting John Mayberry and walking Chris Davis to put the go-ahead run on base. With two outs, Murphy cracked a shot to the center field warning track for a double scoring two runs, then Fox put Frisco up 6-4 with a single to right.

The Travs turned to LHP Doug Brandt to start the sixth inning, but Gentry ripped a solo home run to left giving Frisco a 7-4 lead.

Arkansas went scoreless from the fourth through the sixth inning, but Collins was hit by a pitch in the seventh and moved to third when Corey Smith lined a single to right. Johnson followed with a sacrifice fly to center, but the Riders answered in the seventh with when Taylor Teagarden hit their fourth dinger, a line drive over the left-field wall.

Time of game was 3:37 and the paid attendance was 4,953.

BOXSCORE

The Travs are off Wednesday before starting a four-game series in North Little Rock with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Thursday night. In game one of the series, Travs RHP Brok Butcher (0-0, 2.97 ERA) is set to pitch against Naturals LHP Rowdy Hardy (0-1, 7.27 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the gates at Dickey-Stephens Park open at 6:10 p.m.

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from April 16, 2008


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