Travs Win In Ten After Blowing Big Lead
May 1, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Drillers Stadium, Tulsa OK - Bobby Wilson broke a tie score with a solo home run (4) in the tenth inning giving the Arkansas Travelers (11-14) a 9-8 victory over the Tulsa Drillers (12-13). With two outs, Wilson smacked a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall off RHP Judd Songster (1-2) to finish 2-for-4 with three RBI. His heroics wouldn't have been needed if not for Tulsa staging a seven-run rally in the ninth to force extra innings. The Drillers took advantage of four walks and a hit batter to tie the game on a two-run single by Aaron Rifkin. The story of the game until Tulsa's big come back was Arkansas starting pitcher RHP Nick Green, who did not allow a hit until the seventh inning. In 7.1 innings, Green gave up just one run on four hits and two walks plus four strikeouts.
The Travs built a 7-0 lead in three innings against Tulsa LHP Zack Parker, who started in place of disabled RHP Jon Asahina. 2B Adam Morrissey walked to begin the game and was singled to second by 3B Freddy Sandoval, who finished with four singles. Morrissey scored from second base when SS Sean Rodriguez bounced to short and the Drillers attempted to turn a double play. 2B Corey Wimberly threw wild past first base allowing Morrissey to cross for a 1-0 lead.
Travs LF Aaron Peel hit a second-inning leadoff double and advanced to third on a single by Greg Porter. Parker then got 1B Michael Collins to ground into a double play and Peel scored.
The Travs loaded the bases to start the third inning on singles by Morrissey and Sandoval followed by a walk to Rodriguez. Wilson then hit a high fly ball off the left-field fence for a single that scored two runs. Two batters later, Peel turned on a pitch for a three-run homer (2) staking Green to a 7-0 lead.
Green stumbled in the first inning issuing back-to-back walks, but then got on a roll and retired 12 batters before a Tulsa batter reached on an error. He then set down five more batters before Tulsa DH Matt Miller lined a one-out single to center field in the seventh inning.
By the time Green returned for the eighth inning, the Travs had given him another run of support thanks to an RBI single by Sandoval that drove in CF Cody Fuller.
Green had begun to tire in the eighth and allowed consecutive singles before getting a flyout. Jonathon Herrera chased Green with an RBI single that put the Drillers on the scoreboard. Arkansas RHP Bill Edwards was summoned and immediately got Gaetti to bounce into a double play.
RHP Jose Arredondo was asked to pitch the bottom of the ninth after two days without action. He walked the first two batters he faced on 10 pitches and allowed a two strike bloop single to Chris Frey to load the bases. After an out, Arredondo walked Jordan Czarniecki to force in a run. Then Travs Manager Bobby Magallanes decided to call for RHP Rafael Rodriguez and he was greeted with a two-run single by Tommy Duenas. Rodriguez then reloaded the bases by catching Wimberly in the foot with a slider. The tying run was put on base when Rodriguez walked Herrera to force in Czarniecki and Gaetti followed with a single to right to cut the Travs' lead to 8-6. Rifkin tied the game by rifling a single to center field and Gaetti advanced to third with only one out. Rodriguez stiffened up and got Miller to foul out before Frey bounced to first to end the inning.
Songster had pitched a shutout ninth inning and got two quick outs at the start of the tenth. Songster then got ahead of Wilson 1-2, but he left a pitch up and Wilson pounced for the game-winning shot.
Time of game was 2:59 and the paid attendance was 2,347.
NOTES: From his start on April 21, Green went 20.1 innings with just one base hit allowed until Miller's single in the seventh...
Wednesday afternoon, the Travs are scheduled to play game two of the four-game set in Tulsa. Arkansas plans on LHP Daniel Davidson pitching against Tulsa RHP Greg Reynolds. First pitch will be thrown at 12:05 p.m.
Texas League Stories from May 1, 2007
- Late Rally Falls Short, Hooks Lose 9-6 - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Win In Ten After Blowing Big Lead - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Rally Late But Lose In 10 - Tulsa Drillers
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- Wranglers Game Tonight Postponed - Wichita Wranglers
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