Travs trumped 4-2 by Tulsa's Kaiser
June 8, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Drillers Stadium, Tulsa, OK - RHP Marc Kaiser (5-4) had his finest outing of the 2006 season to lead the Tulsa Drillers (36-24) to a 4-2 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (21-38), ending the Travs' four-game winning streak. In winning his third straight game against the Travs, Kaiser allowed two runs (both unearned) on just three hits over eight innings while walking two and striking out three. Arkansas RHP Jesse Smith (3-7) lost his sixth consecutive start, but also pitched eight innings allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Smith was credited with his second complete game of the season, but has lost both of those starts to Kaiser. The only Arkansas runs came on a two-run homer by Jason Aspito (11), while the Drillers were led by 1B Joe Koshansky who homered (14), singled and scored two runs. Jud Thigpen knocked in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie.
The Drillers caught an early break when Troy Tulowitski reached first base when Brandon Wood muffed a ground ball in the first inning. Seth Smith then lined a double past third base to move him to third base and Ian Stewart gave Tulsa a 1-0 lead with a bounce out to second base.
The Travs also took advantage of an error to bring home two runs in the top of the second. With one out, Joe Gaetti dropped Greg Porter's line drive at the left field warning track for a two-base error. Although Porter was thrown out trying to advance to third base on Bobby Wilson's fielder's choice to the mound, Aspito followed with his two-run blast to left field for a 2-1 Travs lead.
Koshansky tied the game, at 2-2, with a second-inning leadoff home run that just got over the left-field wall.
Smith and Kaiser then traded scoreless innings until Tulsa came to bat in the seventh inning. Chris Ianetta and Koshansky began the frame with singles putting runners at first and second with no outs. Jordan Czarniecki laid a sacrifice bunt that Bobby Wilson fielded in front of the plate. His throw went slightly into the base line, but was catchable. 2B Devin Day reached into Czarniecki and got his glove on the ball, but dropped it for an error that loaded the bases. Thigpen followed with a high fly to left field that scored Ianetta while Koshansky and Czarniecki advanced on the throw home. Doug Bernier's suicide squeeze got Koshansky home for a 4-2 Drillers lead.
Time of game was 2:10 and the paid attendance was 4,664.
NOTES: Wood finished 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, while 3B Matt Brown's 13-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 game.
To view the boxscore, please click here.
The Travs and Drillers finish the four-game series on Friday night. The Travs have RHP Nick Green (1-0, 3.86 ERA) pitching against Tulsa RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-2, 3.38 ERA). First pitch at Drillers Stadium is set for 7:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 8, 2006
- Hooks top Midland - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards drop fourth straight - Springfield Cardinals
- Kaiser stops Travs - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs trumped 4-2 by Tulsa's Kaiser - Arkansas Travelers
- Four RockHounds selected as All-Stars - Midland RockHounds
- RockHounds to Return home in Playoff Race - Midland RockHounds
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