Wichita Overcomes Travs In Eighth Inning
Published on July 15, 2007 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Wichita, KS - The Wichita Wranglers (9-14, 34-59) scored three runs in the eighth inning for a 5-3 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (10-13, 41-52). The Travs held a 3-2 lead going into the eighth inning, but four Wichita batters reached consecutively against losing pitcher RHP Aaron Pullin (3-4) sending the Travs to their third loss in nine games. Wranglers 1B Mike Stodolka hit three singles, drove in a run and scored the winning run on a passed ball charged to C Corey Myers. The passed ball was the only blemish on an otherwise great game by Myers as he drove in two runs on three singles and stole home plate. In his double-A debut Travs RHP Brok Butcher was solid in a no-decision. The Wranglers scored two unearned runs on four base hits in Butcher's six innings. Butcher walked just one batter, struck out four and retired 10 of the last Wichita batters against him. Wichita RHP Tim Bausher (1-2) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the win, while RHP Jarod Plummer (9) earned the save pitching around a single for a shutout ninth inning.
The Travs had a chance in the first inning to break out in front. Brad Coon, who finished 2-for-4, his a leadoff single and moved to second base on a groundout. After Coon stole third base, the Wranglers played the infield up. Coon then ran on contact as Freddy Sandoval bounced to first base and Coon was pegged at home.
Wichita struck first against Butcher in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, SS Sean Rodriguez snagged a hard grounder hit up-the-middle by Onil Joseph. The ball popped out of Rodriguez's glove as he reached in with his hand and an error was charged allowing Joseph to reach base. After the second out, Geraldo Valentin grounded a single to center moving Joseph to second base. Stodolka then lined a base hit to left field bringing home Joseph. Valentin scored when Jorge Padilla lined a single over shortstop and the Wranglers took a 2-0 lead. Butcher then reeled off nine straight outs and did not allow another base hit.
With the Travs held by Wichita RHP D.J. Maddox without a run through three innings, Rodriguez led off the fourth with a double to left field. Myers singled him home with one out and ran to second base on the throw home. With two outs, Maddox struck out Cody Fuller with a slider that bounced off C Adam Donachie's glove allowing Fuller to reach first while Myers ran to third. Then with Coby Smith batting, Fuller ran for second base on a 2-0 pitch and Donachie threw for second base. Myers then broke for the plate and slid underneath Donachie's tag to tie the game. Wichita Manager T.J. Tijerina argued the call and was ejected by plate umpire John Brammer after a couple of minutes.
The game was tied 2-2 when Maddox returned for the top of the sixth inning and got Rodriguez to bounce to short. SS Irving Falu misfired over first base and the ball bounced into the grandstand for an error that moved Rodriguez to second base. Matt Pali grounded to first base to move Rodriguez up to third and the infield came in. On a 2-2 pitch Myers hit a flare to center CF Adam Greenberg caught while diving towards the infield. The ball popped out as he somersaulted on the grass and Myers got a single knocking in Rodriguez for a 3-2 Travs lead.
Butcher was removed at the start of the seventh inning in favor of RHP Von Stertzbach, and he responded with a 1-2-3 inning.
Bausher came out of the Tulsa bullpen for the start of the seventh following Maddox's six inning start.
Pullin relieved at the start of the eighth allowing just one run over his previous 16 innings. Valentin started the rally with his second hit, a liner into center field for a single. Valentin headed to third base on a hit-and-run single that Stodolka poked perfectly through shortstop to put runners at the corners. Pullin loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk to Padilla. Kaaihue, who had walked in his previous plate appearance, ran a full count and took ball four outside to bring in Valentin with the tying run. RHP Darren O'Day was then summoned from the bullpen and was working to Jeff Nettles when a slider glanced off Myers' glove allowing Stodolka to score giving Wichita the lead. Nettles gave Wichita a 5-3 lead with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
Fuller brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth with a leadoff single, but Plummer got Coby Smith to fly to right field before striking out Coon as Fuller stole second base. Adam Morrissey, who hit two home runs last night, then hit a hard bouncer that Falu stopped on his knees. His throw bounced to first base, but was stabbed by Stodolka for the last out of the game.
Time of game was 2:24 and the paid attendance was 805.
The Travs and Wranglers play the second game of this four-game series Monday night. Arkansas sends RHP Miguel Gonzalez (5-3, 2.80 ERA) to the mound against Wichita RHP Greg Atencio (4-4, 3.54 ERA). The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
Texas League Stories from July 15, 2007
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- Borrell Shines in Midland Win - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Frisco retakes top spot in South Division - Frisco RoughRiders
- Wichita Overcomes Travs In Eighth Inning - Arkansas Travelers
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