Travs Swept by Drillers
Published on June 17, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A night after clinching the first half crown in the Texas League North Division, the Tulsa Drillers kept on their winning ways as they completed a four-game sweep of the Arkansas Travelers with a 6-1 win in front of a Father's Day crowd of 4,418 on Sunday night at Dickey-Stephens Park.
The Travelers (25-43), who were sporting special baby blue uniforms for special day, took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Roberto Lopez singled home Casey Haerther, who had hit a two-out double down the left field line two batters prior. The early run of support for Travs' starter, Johnny Hellweg, would stick through the first eight Drillers (40-28) batters as Hellweg sat them down in order.
Drillers' nine-hole hitter, Warren Schaeffer, would break Hellweg's rhythm with a two-out double in the top of the third inning. A batter later, Schaeffer scored the tying run when Mike Mitchell singled to centerfield. Another double, this time off the bat of Ben Paulsen with one out in the fourth inning, would hurt Hellweg's effort on the mound. Two batters later, Kiel Roling, drove in Paulsen with the go-ahead run on a single to left field.
The score would remain 2-1 in favor of the Drillers through seven innings as Hellweg surrendered just two hits and struck out five batters over the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. In that same time, the Travs would have at least one runner reach base in each inning, and twice they put a man on third base, but were unable to knot the game.
The Travs' missed opportunities loomed even larger when the Drillers broke the game wide open in the eighth inning when they platted four runs to take a late 6-1 lead. The four runs came on just one hit, a bases-clearing double by Roling. Prior to that hit, the Drillers reached base on four walks and a fielder's choice.
In the bottom of the frame, the Travs put two more runners in scoring position when Jimmy Swift doubled through the hole at shortstop, moving Lopez, who walked in the at-bat prior, to third base. Reliever Zach Simons get a foul-out of Darwin Perez and a fly out of Jose Jimenez to tight-rope out of the inning without giving up a run. The Travs would get another hit in the ninth inning, but Renny Osuna would become the 11th runner stranded after Haerther struck out to end the game.
Former Arkansas Razorback Nick Schmidt earned the win after working five complete innings, giving up six hits, two walks, striking out four, and allowing one earned run. Schmidt is now 5-3 on the year. Hellweg takes the loss for the Travs after working seven complete innings, surrendering six hits, issuing no walks, striking out seven, and allowing two earned runs. Hellweg falls to 2-6.
The Travs will now turn their attention to the Springfield Cardinals as they will welcome them into Dickey-Stephens Park for a four-game set starting on Monday, June 18th. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm. Gates open at 6:10 pm.
Texas League Stories from June 17, 2012
- Travs Swept by Drillers - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Lose to Naturals 4-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Dwyer Dominates Cardinals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, June 17 at Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
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