Travs Win, Travs Win
Published on June 17, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, Arkansas - Adam Greenberg got the last hit of the night when the Arkansas Travelers (36-34) rallied to beat the Springfield Cardinals (36-34) 7-6 in 11 innings Tuesday night. The Travelers trailed 4-0 early but chipped away and finally broke through in the final inning, scoring three runs. The win gave the Travs a first place tie in the standings with the Cards but the Travs held the tiebreaker, giving them the first-half title and postseason berth.
Starter Fernando Rodriguez was on a short leash with such an important game and was pulled after 2.2 ineffective innings. He gave up three runs on two hits but most importantly, issued five walks.
After four innings, the Travs were on the downside of a 4-0 score and facing All-Star pitcher Jess Todd. Todd entered the game with a 0.83 ERA since being called up from Single-A and had yet to allow an earned run against the Travs.
Jordan Czarniecki took the first pitch of the fifth inning deep over the left-field wall to cut the lead to three runs. Czarniecki finished 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.
Ben Johnson came home to score the Travs' second run from second after a two-out double in the sixth inning. Corey Smith drove him home with a single that went off the glove of the leaping 2B to extend his hit streak to 11 games.
Nate Sutton led off the eighth inning with his sixth home run of the year to cut the score to 4-3. Sutton ended the game 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. His hit to lead off the first inning extended his hit streak to nine games. He has raised his average from .252 to .281 in that span.
Down to the final out in the ninth inning, still trailing by a run, Michael Collins sent the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence to tie the game and force extra innings for the 12th time this season.
A two-out walk to ninth-place batter Matt Pagnozzi put the go-ahead run on base in the 11th inning. Pagnozzi came home to score the go-ahead run on Shane Robinson's RBI double. Robinson scored the second run of the inning on Jon Jay's RBI double to make the score 6-4.
The Travelers still refused to quit however, pounding out four consecutive singles with a wild pitch mixed in to start the bottom of the inning and tie the score.
Greenberg stepped in with the bases loaded and the chance to be the hero, only two nights after returning from the DL. He lined an 0-1 pitch over the head of the right fielder to score Anderson Rosario with the winning run and give the Travs the title.
Ryan Aldridge (1-0) picked up his first win of the year by recording the final out of the 11th.
Luke Gregerson was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs on five hits over 1.1 innings.
Daniel Davidson relieved Fernando Rodriguez in the third inning and pitched 4.1 solid innings, holding the Cards to one run on two hits while striking out six.
Boxscore
Time of game was 3:34 and paid attendance was 6,556.
The Travs will begin a new half of baseball on Wednesday in the third game of the series against the Cards. Pitching for the Travelers will be RHP Brok Butcher (4-2, 4.15 ERA) and pitching for the Cardinals will be RHP Adam Ottavino (0-4, 7.41 ERA). Game time is set for 7:10 with the gates opening at 6:10.
Texas League Stories from June 17, 2008
- Travs Win, Travs Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards fall to Travs - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks close out first half with loss - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Tulsa Blasts NW Arkansas Again - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers close out first half with win - Tulsa Drillers
- Dusty Hughes Promoted to Omaha - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks to Honor 1958 Corpus Christi Giants - Corpus Christi Hooks
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