TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Witherspoon, Cron Homer in 5-1 Win

Published on May 15, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


North Little Rock, Arkansas - Travis Witherspoon continued his power surge on Wednesday by hitting his fourth home run in May in the first inning as the Arkansas Travelers led wire-to-wire in a 5-1 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Dickey-Stephens Park. Witherspoon's second go-ahead homer of the series was matched by C.J. Cron, who went deep (3) in the third inning, helping the Travs to their sixth straight win.

Brandon Hynick (3-2) held the Naturals to one run on four hits in five innings for the win. Nick Maronde tossed two no-hit innings before Elvin Ramirez and Michael Cisco each fired one inning to send NW Arkansas to their fourth straight loss.

Now 5-2 against the Naturals this season, the Travelers season record improves to 21-17. They are only a half game out of first place behind Springfield heading into Thursday's series finale with the Naturals, who fall to 13-24.

Witherspoon reached base four times but his first inning home run to left field got the Travs on top early. His next three plate appearances would lead to a walk each time. Cron turned on a pitch in the third for a 2-0 lead. Both long balls came against Naturals right hander Sugar Ray Marimon (2-5), who took the loss allowing just two runs on five hits in six innings.

Hynick allowed NWA leadoff batters to reach base in the second and third innings, but each time Travs catcher Mark Fleury caught him stealing. Mitch Canham walked to begin the second and moved up on a wild pitch before Fleury pegged him attempting to steal third. Roman Hernandez singled to begin the third inning but was thrown out at second on a steal attempt.

Angel Franco made it aboard to begin the fourth inning when the Naturals third baseman singled to right field. Franco advanced to third base when Orlando Calixte singled past third base. Franco scored when Rey Navarro bounced to second with Calixte forced at second base on the play. However shortstop Rolando Gomez threw wildly past first base attempting the double play. Still Hynick left the tying run at third when Yem Prades hit a soft liner to third base.

Hynick worked out of a jam in the fifth inning after allowing a leadoff single followed by a walk. With the go-ahead runs on base Alex McClure's fake bunt attempt turned into a routine pop out to shortstop. Hynick then struck out Alex Llanos looking and got Franco to fly out.

Maronde worked a perfect sixth inning and then pitched around two walks in the seventh. Then Ramirez retired all three Naturals batters in the eighth inning.

The Travs put the game out of reach against Edwin Carl in the eighth. After two outs with no one on base, Carl walked Taylor Lindsey and Drew Heid. Getting his first start at third base for the Travs, Trevor Hairgrove collected his first base hit for the team with an RBI single. Then Carl walked Fleury to load the bases leading to Gomez's two-run single to centerfield.

Cisco came on for the ninth inning and got Yem Prades to bounce into a double play after issuing a leadoff walk.

The series wraps up on Thursday evening as the Travs send Matt Oye (3-2, 5.67) to the hill against Yordano Ventura (3-0, 1.57). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

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Texas League Stories from May 15, 2013


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