TEXAS LEAGUE : HRs keep Travs one step ahead
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
TULSA — The Arkansas Travelers broke out of a scoring slump with three home runs to beat the Tulsa Drillers 5-4 on Monday before 5, 083 at Drillers Stadium.
Arkansas shortstop Wilberto Ortiz hit a leadoff home run in the ninth inning to give the Travs the lead, and three good defensive plays helped finish off the Drillers. Rafael Rodriguez (2-3 ) earned the victory for Arkansas, while Ryan Mattheus (2-4 ) took the loss.
The Travelers had lost six of eight games and had scored only three runs in the previous 24 innings. It changed when, trailing 2-0, Travelers left fielder Chris Pettit hit a three-run home run.
Designator Brian Stavisky hit another home run for the Travelers in the eighth.
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Tulsa got the leadoff man on after an error by Ortiz. But he made up for it on consecutive plays. First, he stayed on the base at second to record a forceout after a nearly errant throw. Then he dived for a grounder, throwing a runner out at first from his knees for the second out.
The game ended when Travelers second baseman Nate Sutton leaped to snag a line drive.
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