McGowin stars until Travs win it in 10th

Kyle McGowin wasn't the winning pitcher Wednesday night in the Arkansas Travelers' 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Midland RockHounds.

But McGowin's best start in almost two months had a lot do with it as the as the Travs opened a six-game homestand in front of an announced crowd of 3,601 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

McGowin (4-7) didn't allow a hit until the seventh inning and allowed 1 run and struck out 7 in 7 2/3 innings but the Travs couldn't get him the victory.

Midland's Matt Angle led off the top of the ninth inning with a double, went to third on reliever Greg Mahle's wild pitch and scored on Chad Pinder's RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

But the Travs won it in the bottom of the 10th when Blake Gailen hit a one-out triple over the head of left fielder Jaycob Brugman. Gailen scored on Snyder's fly ball to center field off Midland reliever Ryan Dull (3-1).

Gailen, who did not start, entered the game in the top of the 10th.

"With the way the game was going, you never know when you were going to be needed," Gailen said. "I put a few good swings on some pitches and fortunately that one landed."

McGowin, a fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2013 out of Savannah State, didn't give up a hit for six innings. He retired 12 of 18 batters by flyout or popout, struck out 3 and walked 3.

Midland first baseman Renato Nunez then led off the top of the seventh inning with a towering home run to left field, a 378-foot shot onto the berm to cut the Travs lead to 2-1. McGowin got Pinder to ground out, Olson to line out and struck out Brugman.

Travs pitching coach Pat Rice said McGowin, who had his longest outing of the season against the RockHounds, had showed signs in recent games that he was ready for a big effort.

"He was throwing the ball well. Nothing was happening," Rice said. "Sometimes, something that simple can build some confidence in him. It's something to build on."

McGowin, a right-hander, was 0-5 in his previous seven starts before Wednesday night, and he still hasn't won a start since May 23 at Springfield.

"Today, he strung together a whole bunch of innings and attacked the hitters more than anything," Rice said. "He came out there with his fastball and went with his slider later in the game.

"I liked his three-pitch mix with the changeup, too."

Arkansas took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off Midland starter Dillon Overton. Drew Maggi's groundout scored Sherman Johnson, who led off the inning with a triple, and Wade Hinkle hit a home run for a 2-0 lead.

D'Arby Myers went 2 for 3 for the Travs.

Sports on 07/09/2015