Tulsa's Early Rally Sends Travs To Fourth Straight Loss
April 26, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, AR - The Tulsa Drillers (10-9) scored six runs in the first inning en route to a 7-2 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (7-12). Arkansas losing pitcher RHP Chris Saenz (1-1) struggled from the outset and lasted just 0.2 innings allowing six runs on two hits, four walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch. Tulsa SS Jonathon Herrera had an action filled night that included four base hits, two RBI, a run scored, a stolen base, two times caught stealing and two fielding errors. The clubs endured a 1:16 rain delay just before the bottom of the second inning which forced both teams to use five pitchers for the night. Tulsa has won all three games of this series and the Travs have dropped four straight games.
Herrera began Tulsa's first inning rally with an infield single to short. The Drillers loaded the bases with no outs as Saenz walked Chris Frey and hit Joe Gaetti with an 0-2 pitch. Aaron Rifkin then lined a single to center to score Herrera for a 1-0 lead. Frey scored from third base on a wild pitch and Matt Miller walked to reload the bases. Saenz forced in Gaetti by walking Jordan Czarniecki for a 3-0 Tulsa lead. Christian Colonel's sacrifice fly to right brought Rifkin home and Saenz left the game after issuing a two-out walk to Rick Guarno giving Herrera another crack. Arkansas RHP Miguel Gonzalez entered and Herrera stroked a single to right field bringing two runs home for a 6-0 lead. Travs C Bobby Wilson then ended the inning by catching Herrera stealing at second base.
Tulsa's RHP Ching-Lung Lo made the start, but could only pitch a 1-2-3 first inning before the tarpaulin was ordered onto the field at 7:44 p.m. before the start of the bottom of the second inning.
A hard rain fell for only a short period of time and play was resumed at 9:02 with LHP Zack Parker in relief for the Drillers. Gonzalez left after the second inning and RHP Rich Thompson came in for the third. He allowed consecutive two-out doubles to Frey and Gaetti in the fourth inning giving Tulsa a 7-0 lead.
Travs 3B Freddy Sandoval led off the fourth with a single and Parker walked DH Curtis Pride. Sean Rodriguez moved the runners up with a hit-and-run groundout, but Parker got a fly out to short right from Aaron Peel keeping the runners at bay. Wilson then slowly grounded to short and Herrera muffed the grounder allowing two runs to score cutting Tulsa's lead to 7-2.
After Thompson left before the sixth, RHP Aaron Pullin dealt three shutout innings with three strikeouts. RHP Bill Edwards went the ninth for the Travs pitching around two singles.
The Travs offense was unable to get another runner to third base after the fourth inning. Parker (2-0) was credited with the win after his four inning stint. LHP Adam Bright pitched the sixth, RHP Jarrett Grube tossed two innings and RHP Matt Daley finished the game with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Time of game was 2:56 and the paid attendance was 3,651.
The Travs try to avoid the sweep Thursday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. Arkansas RHP Nick Green (1-1, 6.75 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against Tulsa RHP Jon Asahina (2-0, 3.38 ERA). First pitch will be thrown at 7:10 p.m. and the gates unhinge at 6:10 p.m.
Texas League Stories from April 26, 2007
- Cards Win Second Straight - Springfield Cardinals
- Green Leads Charge In Travs 7-0 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Tulsa Blanked On One Hit - Tulsa Drillers
- Buckner promoted to Omaha - Wichita Wranglers
- Drillers Home May 1 - Tulsa Drillers
- Tulsa's Early Rally Sends Travs To Fourth Straight Loss - Arkansas Travelers
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