Travs win 8-6 At Tulsa for third straight win
June 6, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Drillers Stadium, Tulsa, OK - As the Arkansas Travelers drove into Tulsa to begin a four-game series, they received word that a very strong thunderstorm had caused a day-long power outage at Drillers Stadium and there would be no batting practice. The power came back on just one hour before the start of the game, and the Travs and Drillers provided plenty of power to weather the next storm combining for 14 runs, 25 hits and five home runs. When the offensive surge was over, the Travs (20-37) held on for an 8-6 victory over the Drillers (35-23).
Aaron Peel (5) began the game with a home run, while Matt Brown added a three-run shot (8). Brandon Wood hit two doubles, scored twice and knocked in a run and Greg Porter finished 3-for-4 plus a double, RBI and a run scored to help lead the Travs to their first three-game winning streak. After RHP Rafael Rodriguez (2-4) left the game in the sixth inning, RHP Rich Thompson allowed just one run over three innings. RHP Miguel Gonzalez (2) earned the save by setting down three Texas League All-Stars with the tying runs in scoring position. The Drillers, who had been on a four-game winning streak, left ten men on base including nine in scoring position.
Peel, who ended Sunday's game with a walk-off home run against Midland, swatted the Travs' first home run to leadoff a game against RHP Steven Register (1-4).
Rodriguez stranded two runners in scoring position over the first two innings and induced a double play from Jordan Czarnecki to stem a rally in the second inning.
Porter led off the top of the third inning with a double to left field, but it took a two-out single by Eric Rodland to score him for a 2-0 lead. Tulsa SS Troy Tulowitsky booted Wood's ground ball for an error that extended the inning. Brown then yanked a low slider over the left-field wall for a three-run homer and a 5-0 Travs lead.
The Drillers caught a break in the third inning when Brown slipped and fell on Tulowitsky's routine ground ball for an error. Rodriguez then walked Seth Smith before Joe Gaetti powered a three-run homer (5) to left field to get the Drillers within 5-3.
Arkansas answered in the fourth inning starting with a leadoff single by Matt Pali, who finished 2-for-4. Jason Aspito's hit-and-run grounder moved Pali to second base and Porter's single to center scored him for a 6-3 Travs lead.
Register lasted until after the fifth inning when Wood doubled off the centerfield wall with one out. Bobby Wilson pulled a grounder inside the third-base line for a two-out RBI double and a 7-3 Arkansas lead.
Rodriguez had set down five straight until Tulowitsky hit a solo home run (8) with one-out in the fifth. Smith then worked a walk and scored from first base when Ian Stewart slapped a double to the left-field corner.
Rodriguez left the game after allowing a single and a walk to begin the sixth inning. Thompson relieved after making just one appearance in a week. He allowed a single by Chrisitan Colonel to load the bases before inducing a pop-out by Doug Bernier. Tulowitsky hit a solid line drive, but Rodland made a diving catch towards his left to save two runs. When Thompson caught Smith looking at a third strike, he stranded three runners on base and held a 7-4 lead.
Tulsa RHP Alberto Arias pitched a shutout sixth inning, but was late covering first base on a groundball to first by Peel allowing an infield single. Rodland grounded slowly to second base moving Peel to second. Wood doubled inside third base to score Peel for a 8-4 lead.
Thompson pitched around a two-out double for a shutout seventh inning, but Czarnecki hit a leadoff home run in the eighth to cut the Travs' lead to 8-5. Colonel reached first base on a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Wood kept Tulowitsky from reaching by making a backhand play deep in the hole and throwing perfectly to first base for the second out. Thompson got Smith to fly to center to end the eighth inning.
After Tulsa RHP Judd Songster pitched a perfect ninth inning, Gonzalez entered the game for Arkansas and allowed singles to Gaetti and Stewart to put the tying runs in scoring position. But Gonzalez struck out Ianetta (the backup All-Star catcher) and Joe Koshansky (starting at 1B for the North All-Stars) before ending the game by getting Czarnecki (All-Star CF) to bounce out to third base.
Time of game was 3:01 and the paid attendance was 9,904.
To view the boxscore, please click here.
The Travs and Drillers match up in the second-game of this four-game series on Wednesday afternoon. The Travs have RHP Chris Hunter (1-5, 8.29 ERA) pitching against Tulsa RHP Juan Morillo (5-2, 2.62 ERA). First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 6, 2006
- Travs win 8-6 At Tulsa for third straight win - Arkansas Travelers
- Albers leads Hooks to victory - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Springfield still two back - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs outlast Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Mariners to hold tryout at Wolff Stadium - San Antonio Missions
- Barzilla to Houston - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Relay For Life Night At Hammons Field - Springfield Cardinals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
