Travs Trounce Cards 10-3
June 14, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Ray Winder Field, Little Rock, AR â The Arkansas Travelers (33-31) scored in each of the first four innings in a 10-3 victory over the Springfield Cardinals (33-32). Erick Aybar hit a two-run homer (4), singled and scored three times, while five of his teammates had two hits. LHP Joe Saunders (5-3) went the farthest of any Travs starting pitcher this season with 7.2 innings pitched. He scattered ten base hits while walking none and striking out four.
The Travs have taken two of the first three games of this five game series. In 12 games against Springfield, the Travelers won nine times including six of seven in Little Rock. 2B Alberto Callaspo finished 2-for-3 with a run batted in and two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Mike Napoli had a double in three at bats to extend a hitting streak to eight games. 1B Kendry Morales was the only Traveler without a hit going 0-for-4 in his Class AA debut with an RBI.
After Callaspo worked a one out walk from Pals in the first inning, Aybar smacked a home run (4) to right field off Springfield starter RHP Jordan Pals (3-5) to grab a 2-0 lead for the Travs.
Greg Porter reached with one out in the second inning with a double to left field and scored when Eylward yanked a double inside third base for a 3-0 lead.
The Cards came close to tying the game in the third inning with one out. Shaun Boyd reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Tyler Minges doubled to left to score Boyd, then scored when Papo Bolivar grounded a single to right field. Bolivar advanced to second on a throwing error but was stranded when Travis Hanson lined out to second base.
The Travs caught a break in the third inning after Callaspo singled. Aybar rolled a routine double play grounder just to the left of second base, but SS Kevin Estrada booted the ball for an error leaving both runners on. Napoli then worked a walk to load the bases. Morales was jammed on a fastball and grounded out to second to bring home Callaspo. Then Tommy Murphy hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Aybar to put Arkansas ahead by three runs. While running with a pitch, Napoli had to duck under a line drive single to left by Eylward and then score for a 6-2 Travs lead. Reloading the bases, Chris Morris legged out a ground ball to shortstop. Travs CF Reggie Willits brought home two more runs with a ground ball single to center field to knock Pals out of the game after just 2.2 innings. Callaspo greeted RHP Jeremy Cook with a single to right to score Morris with Willits the final out of the inning on a tag play at home with the Travs leading 9-2.
Leading off the bottom of the fourth inning, Aybar singled and stole second base. When Morales' hard smash was stopped at first base, Aybar reached third and scored when Porter doubled to left field for a 10-2 lead.
Saunders retired seven straight hitters after the run he allowed in the third inning. He left two runners on base in the sixth and got through a perfect seventh inning. Then Minges led off the eighth with a double to right field and after two outs Saunders allowed a single to Travis Hanson to score him.
Arkansas RHP Greg Jones then relieved Saunders and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to finish the game.
Game time was 2:24 and the paid attendance was 2,907.
The fourth game of this five-game series is set for Tuesday night at Ray Winder Field. The Travelers have LHP Tim Bittner (1-5, 6.38 ERA) pitching against Springfield LHP Randy Leek (6-3, 3.09 ERA). First pitch will be thrown at 7:10 and the gates open at 6:10 p.m.
Please call (501) 664-1555 or visit www.travs.com for game information.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2005
- Springfield Strikes Back In 11-4 Pounding - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers are champs - Tulsa Drillers
- Cards Hammer Travs 11-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- TJ Bohn Named to the All-Star Team - San Antonio Missions
- Friday Night Bash is Back - Wichita Wranglers
- Seattle Mariners to Hold Tryout Camp at Wolff Stadium - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Trounce Cards 10-3 - Arkansas Travelers
- Streak ends at five - Corpus Christi Hooks
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