Travs Weekly Report
Published on June 12, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
The Past Week: The Arkansas Travelers (32-32) were able to reach first place in the Texas League North Division with three wins against the NW Arkansas Naturals last week. The wins put them with identical records but since the Travs owned the season series, they were in first. The situation got more confusing the first night of the Springfield series when there was a three-way tie for first, again with the Travs getting the advantage. A win the next night over Springfield coupled with a NW Arkansas loss gave the Travs their first taste of being in sole possesion of first place this season. The ride was short lived however with Springfield winning the next two games to take sole possession of first heading into play Thursday.
NW Arkansas Series: The Travs were able to rebound from getting shut out in game one to take the next three games against the Nats. After the Travelers were held scoreless in the first game, they responded by scoring 15 runs in the next three games. OF Adam Greenberg and SS Hainley Statia were placed on 7-day DL with leg injuries. OF Anderson Rosario and IF Wil Ortiz were sent to Arkansas from Rancho Cucamonga. OF Cliff Remole was send down to Rancho from Arkansas.
Nats' starter Blake Wood owned the Travs in game one, holding them to just three hits en route to a 3-0 shutout. It was the fourth complete-game shutout in the Texas League this season. Dan Denham pitched well but was not rewarded, going seven innings and allowing all three runs for his fifth loss on the year. All three of the Travelers' hits were singles.
Anthony Ortega allowed only one run to the Naturals in game two with the Travs winning 7-1. Ortega pitched seven innings and recorded five strikeouts. Jordan Czarniecki paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. He also hit his fourth home run of the season. Brian Stavisky and Hainley Statia each had a multi-hit game. The win moved the Travs' record back to the .500 mark at 28-28.
Arkansas won game three 4-2 on the strength of three home runs, one each from Michael Collins, Ben Johnson and Brian Stavisky. Bobby Mosebach earned his fifth win, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing just one run. Seven out of the nine batters in the starting lineup recorded a hit as the Travs totaled eight on the night. Stephen Marek struck out four batters in the final two innings to earn his third save.
In his first game as an Arkansas Traveler, Wil Ortiz got things off to a good start by knocking in the winning run in a 4-3 victory over the Naturals in game four. Fernando Rodriguez was credited with the win for going five innings and allowing all three runs. Kevin Jepsen moved into first place in the Texas League lead in saves with 11 by pitching the final two innings. Nate Sutton, Corey Smith and Ortiz each had two hits. The win moved the Travs into first place in the division for the first time all season.
Springfield Series: The Travelers surrendered first place in the division to the Cardinals by losing three of four games. After being stunned in extra innings in game one, the Travs answered with a blowout in game two before losing the final two games of the series. The Travs batted just .250 against the Cards in the series and committed seven errors. RHP Kevin Jepsen was promoted to Salt Lake after being named to the Texas League North Division All-Star team and RHP Ryan Aldridge was promoted from Rancho Cucamonga to replace Jepsen.
Late-inning home runs by the Cards doomed the Travs in game one of the series with Springfield winning 9-7 in 10 innings. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Travs leading by two, the Cards hit a two-run homer to send the game into the 10th. Brian Stavisky hit his third home run of the year in the top of the inning but the Cards got a three-run, walk-off home run to win the game. Starting the game for the Cardinals was former Major League pitcher Matt Clement who is on a rehab assignment with St. Louis. Brian Walker hit his first home run of the season in the second inning.
Brian Stavisky paced the Travs in game two, going 3-for-3 and hitting his fourth homer of the season. The Travelers banged out 12 hits and scored 12 runs in the 12-2 victory. The Travs sent 13 batters to the plate in the decisive 2nd inning, scoring eight in the inning. The inning was highlighted by Nate Sutton's grand slam, the first for the Travs this season. Dan Denham pitched well and earned the win, lasting seven innings and only giving up one earned run. The win moved the Travs into sole possession of first place in the division.
Arkansas moved back into a tie for first with a 3-1 loss in game three of the series. After the Travs tied the game 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning, the Cards answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning. Nate Sutton, Ben Johnson and Brian Walker each had a multi-hit game. Anthony Ortega started the game and was responsible for all three of the Springfield runs. The loss dropped his record to 6-4 on the year.
With a 6-1 defeat in game four, the Travs stood completely out of first place for the first time in four games. St. Louis Cardinals' closer Jason Isringhausen threw the first 1.2 innings while on a rehab assignment and starting prospect Jess Todd threw the final 7.1 innings, limiting the Travs to a lone unearned run. Bobby Mosebach was hit hard, lasting only 3.1 innings and allowing all six runs. Doug Brandt pitched well in relief, going 3.1 innings himself. Brandt's innings were scoreless however. Nate Sutton stole two bases in the game.
Who's Hot: OF Brian Stavisky is hitting well since joining the team, batting .412 in his last five games. He also has at least one hit in six out of his last seven games. Wil Ortiz is hitting well after his promotion from Rancho Cucamonga, batting .333 in his first four games up. Brok Butcher pitched seven innings without permitting an earned run in his last start. He also struck out six.
Who's Not: 1B Michael Collins is struggling at the plate, hitting just .161 in his last 10 games. OF Jordan Czarniecki is also in a little bit of a slump, batting only .167 in his last five games. Czarniecki should be looking forward to returning to Dickey-Stephens Park, he has hit .426 at home this year. Bobby Mosebach lasted only 3.1 innings in his last start and allowed six earned runs.
The Week Ahead: The Travelers return home Thursday to face the Tulsa Drillers for four games and the first-place Springfield Cardinals for four games. After a trip to NW Arkansas, the season will be half over with the All-Star game being played Wednesday the 25th in Springfield.
Pitching Probables, Travs vs. Drillers:
Thurs: RHP Fernando Rodriguez (5-4, 5.32 ERA) vs. RHP Chaz Roe (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Fri: RHP Brok Butcher (4-2, 4.12 ERA) vs. RHP Alan Johnson (3-6, 5.22 ERA)
Sat: RHP Dan Denham (5-5, 2.84 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Hynick (4-4, 5.23 ERA)
Sun: RHP Bobby Mosebach (5-4, 3.87 ERA) vs. RHP Ching-Lung Lo (5-6, 5.54 ERA)
Texas League Stories from June 12, 2008
- Travs back in first with win - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Streak Ends With 10-Inning Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- 'Riders win by two touchdowns - Frisco RoughRiders
- Travs Weekly Report - Arkansas Travelers
- Carlos Rosa Promoted to Kansas City - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- "Big-League" Week Continues At Hammons Field - Springfield Cardinals
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