Travelers rock Midland for series victory
MIDLAND, Texas — The Arkansas Travelers scored thirty runs in three games against the Midland RockHounds this week and won the deciding game,
10-8, Thursday to pick up a series victory. Thursday’s win moved Arkansas (26-26) into second place in the Texas League’s North division, one game back of the Springfield Cardinals (27-26). The Northwest Arkansas Naturals sit in third place (26-27) and the Tulsa Drillers are now in fourth (24-28).
Arkansas scored the first nine runs of the game on Thursday before holding off a comeback bid by the RockHounds (26-27). The Travelers scored five runs in 3 2/3 innings off of top Midland prospect Jesus Lazardo (2-2, 4.68 ERA).
Max Povse (1-1, 4.58) did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and finished the game with 10 strikeouts for Arkansas. The total was one shy of his career high. Povse allowed three runs on six hits in six innings with two walks.
Designated hitter Beau Amaral opened the scoring with his first home run of the season to right field. After a pair of two-out walks in the third, second baseman Chris Mariscal hit a triple to left-center field to extend the lead to 3-0.
Arkansas’ four-run fifth inning included third baseman Joe DeCarlo’s second double of the game, driving in two runs, and an RBI double from center fielder Braden Bishop.
Tyler Marincov hit his third home run of the series to pull the ‘Hounds within three in the eighth inning. Midland scored twice in the ninth and had the tying runs in scoring position with two out in the ninth, but Matt Festa struck out Brett Siddall to preserve the victory.
Bishop was 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI. Left fielder Chuck Taylor was also 3-for-6 with a run and two RBIs. Mariscal hit 2-for-6 and had two RBIs.
Amaral finished the game 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. DeCarlo was 3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.
The two teams combined for 56 runs on 92 hits in the three-game series.
A seven-run second inning proved too much for Arkansas to overcome in an 8-4 decision on Wednesday. The rally began with two outs and no one on base.
Eight straight Midland batters reached base, including seven hits and four that went for extra bases. All of the runs, while unearned, were charged to starter Anthony Misiewicz (1-5, 4.97).
Arkansas was 0-5 with runners in scoring position. Midland starter Logan Shore (1-0, 3.09) allowed four runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in seven innings.
Scott Kuzminsky, Stephen Perakslis and Spencer Hermann combined to allow just one unearned run in 6 1/3 innings out of the Arkansas bullpen.
Designated hitter Eric Filia, batting second for Midland and making his season debut, homered on the first pitch he saw to put the Travs up 2-0.
The RockHounds rallied in the second inning after
a two-hopper to third base was not handled for an error and then was followed by a passed ball and an RBI triple.
Arkansas had runners at the corners with one out in the seventh inning before a ground ball by first baseman Joey Curletta was fielded for a force out at second base to stall the visitors’ momentum.
Filia was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and two RBIs in the game. Bishop hit 3-for-5 and scored two runs.
The Arkansas lineup had its best showing of the season in the opener on Tuesday, a 16-10 win. The Travelers never trailed and led by as many as six runs on four different occasions. They seat season highs in runs, hits and extra base hits with eight of the nine batters posting multi-hit nights.
J.P. Sportman and Tyler Marincov hit a pair of home runs, including an inside-the-park grand slam by Marincov.
The Travelers did strike out 14 RockHounds and the bullpen allowed just one run over the final 4 2/3 innings. Matt Walker (1-0, 5.31) allowed one run on two hits, three strikeouts and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.
Bishop and Taylor opened the game with consecutive doubles. Bishop connected in the next inning for a tworun home run.
Arkansas’ four-run third inning consisted of four singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly.
With two outs and no runners on base in the sixth inning, six straight Travelers reached base. Taylor capped the run with a two-run triple.
Bishop finished the game 4-for-5 with a walk and three RBIs. He scored four times in the win.
Taylor and Curletta each scored two runs. Taylor had a double and a triple, two runs and three RBIs. Curletta finished 2-fr-5 with a walk, two doubles, two runs and an RBI.
Designated hitter Dario Pizzano had four RBIs on
2-for-6 hitting. Amaral played right field in the win, hitting
3-for-5 with an RBI and a run. DeCarlo played catcher and hit 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs.
Arkansas continued its road trip Friday against the Frisco RoughRiders (17-36). The teams are scheduled to close the series with games at 7:05 p.m. today and Sunday.