TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Travs Weekly Report

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


The First Road trip: Arkansas (3-9) hit the road for the first time this season to play seven games in six days with a double header on Monday against Frisco. The Travs picked up their first three wins of the 2008 season, winning the last game of the Midland series, the opener and finale of the Frisco series. The Travs are currently tied for last in the Texas League North division with the Springfield Cardinals (3-9). Despite being six games below .500, they are only two games back of the division leading NW Arkansas Naturals (5-7).

Midland Series: The Travelers brought their bats to Midland after struggling for offense in the first five games at home. The Travs collected 31 hits in the three game series and batted .310. Arkansas did fail to get runners in once they got on base however, only scoring 14 runs. 1B/DH Jesse Hoorelbeke and OF Jordan Renz were given their release, while the Travs added RHP Dan Denham to their pitching rotation and OF Jordan Czarniecki and IF Adam Morrissey to their lineup. RHP Jesse Smith has been sent to Tempe after experiencing elbow pain during last Monday's loss to Frisco. OF Aaron Peel was placed on the disabled list Monday with a fractured left clavicle. OF Cliff Remole was called up from Rancho Cucamonga to replace Peel on the active roster.

The first game of the road trip didn't get off to a good start with the Travs trailing 9-1 after the fifth inning. Arkansas ended up losing to Midland 11-4. Fernando Rodriguez (0-2) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings.

In game two of the series, the Travelers fell apart after leading 4-1 in the eighth inning, eventually falling 5-4. The RockHounds rallied for three in the eighth thanks to a fielding error on a routine grounder to 2B Nate Sutton, a walk and three base hits. The Travs also had four runners thrown out on the bases and didn't score after the fifth inning. Closer Stephen Marek (0-2) gave up the deciding run in the bottom of the ninth pushing his ERA to 7.36 after the game.

Arkansas finally got its first win of the year 6-3, but lost OF Aaron Peel due to a clavicle fracture. Game three featured a well-pitched game by starter Anthony Ortega (1-1) who went six innings while striking out seven. The Travs took advantage of Midland mistakes to score five runs in the first two innings. Corey Smith's bases-loaded single in 2nd inning was the biggest hit for Arkansas. Frisco Series: The Travs had an up and down series against the RoughRiders. In the two games the Travelers won, they batted .292. In the two games they lost, they batted just .241. The two teams played two seven-inning games on Monday because of a rainout in Little Rock last Tuesday.

Game one of the series featured the Arkansas defense. The Travs turned three double plays to beat Frisco 4-3 and win two in a row. A sparkling 3-2-3 double play turned by 1B Michael Collins and C Ben Johnson in eighth snuffed our potential go-ahead rally by Frisco. Collins was easily the player of the game going 2-3 with a sac fly and a run scored. His run came when he stole home on a double steal by knocking down the Frisco catcher in the fifth. He was also a part of all three double plays.

Dan Denham was effectively wild in his first Double-A start walking five but holding Frisco to one run on two hits over 3.1 innings. Reliever Stephen Marek came in to pitch and threw up zeros over the final 2.2 innings. The damage was already done however with Arkansas eventually losing a tough one 1-0. Frisco pitcher Evan Reed (1-0), was also making his Double-A debut and picked up his first win going five strong innings, striking out three against no walks.

David Austen (0-1) made a spot start for Arkansas in the second game of the doubleheader, pitching four innings and giving up all six runs-five earned. Austen went into the fifth inning with the score tied at four but back-to-back homers to start the inning did him in. Von Stertzbach pitched two perfect innings of relief but the Travs couldn't come back against the RoughRider bullpen, dropping the game 6-4.

1B Michael Collins was again the star of the game, going 3-4 with a homer, five RBI's, three runs scored and a stolen base. Collins also reached base on a walk. Arkansas came back from three runs down in the ninth to win the game 10-8 in 10 innings. Starter Fernando Rodriguez (0-2) was hit hard, allowing six earned runs in five innings. Reliever Kevin Jepsen (1-0) was dominant, throwing the final three innings and striking out seven.

Who's Hot: Arkansas OF Coby Smith is batting .438 over the last five games with seven runs scored. 1B Michael is batting .412 with seven RBI's through the last five games and is batting .419 through the last ten. Corey Smith has slugged two long balls in his last five games to lead the team in that span. Relief pitcher Kevin Jepsen has nine K's in his most recent 4.2 IP and picked up the win on Tuesday.

Who's Not: C Ben Johnson has struggled recently, with only four hits in the last ten games, which is good for a .125 average. RHP Fernando Rodriguez has given up 13 earned runs in his last 9.1 innings pitched, spanning two starts. Dan Denham walked five in his 3.1 IP on Monday.

The Week Ahead: Arkansas returns home to Dickey-Stephens Park for four games starting on Thursday. The Travelers will get their first look at their in-state rivals, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. After the home stand, the Travs hit the road again, playing four games against Tulsa starting Monday followed by a weekend series at Northwest Arkansas

Pitching Probables, Travs vs. Naturals: Thurs: RHP Brok Butcher (0-0, 2.79 ERA) vs. LHP Rowdy Hardy (0-1, 7.27 ERA) Fri: RHP Anthony Ortega (1-1, 2.45 ERA) vs. RHP Dan Cortes (1-0, 1.08 ERA) Sat: RHP Bobby Mosebach (1-0, 3.48 ERA) vs. RHP Blake Johnson (1-0, 5.23 ERA) Sun: RHP Dan Denham (0-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. RHP Carlos Rosa (1-1, 1.93 ERA)

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from April 16, 2008


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