Triple pushes Travs over top

Texas League

TRAVELERS 4, DRILLERS 3

Eric Stamets' two-run triple with two outs in the top of the ninth inning gave the Arkansas Travelers the lead and they held on to beat the Tulsa Drillers 4-3 on Thursday night in front of an announced crowd of 5,869 at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.

Stamets' triple scored Jared Mitchell and D'Arby Myers to help Arkansas overcome a 3-2 deficit. He finished 2 for 4 with 4 RBI on Thursday.

Tulsa reliever Jacob Rhame (2-3) walked Mitchell and Michael Snyder to lead off the top of the inning and Myers came on to pinch run for Snyder. Cal Towey struck out and Anthony Bemboom flew out to center field. With Stamets at the plate, Myers and Mitchell stole second and third base, respectively. Stamets then tripled off Tulsa reliever Mike Thomas to give the Travs a 4-3 lead.

Sherman Johnson walked and stole second base, but Drew Maggi struck out to end the inning.

Tulsa tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth. Lars Anderson hit a leadoff single off Travs reliever Greg Mahle and two batters later, Yadir Drake singled to put runners on second and third. Drake advanced to second on the throw from Mitchell and pinch-runner Adam Law went to third on the play.

Brandon Trinkwon walked to load the bases for Jeremy Rathjen, who grounded into a game-ending double play.

Mahle earned his seventh save of the season for Arkansas.

Danny Reynolds (1-2) pitched an inning of scoreless relief to earn the victory.

Johnson, Snyder and Brian Hernandez each had a hit for the Travs, who were outhit 8-5 by Tulsa.

Anderson and Kyle Farmer led Tulsa with two hits apiece.

The Drillers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Peter Lavin's sixth home run of the season and Farmer's RBI single. Arkansas tied the game at 2-2 in the second inning thanks to Stamets' two-run single.

Tulsa took a 3-2 lead in the third inning on Farmer's double to left field, which scored Anderson.

CARDINALS 8, NATURALS 1

Northwest Arkansas scored in the top of the first inning Thursday night in Springfield, Mo., but couldn't hold the lead as the Cardinals scored seven runs over the fourth and fifth innings for the victory in front of an announced crowd of 4,941 at Hammons Field.

The Naturals got to Springfield starter Drew Hald (2-4) in the first when Raul Mondesi led off with a single to left and was followed by Bubba Starling's double to left-center field for a quick 1-0 lead.

Springfield struck for three in the bottom of the fourth off Northwest Arkansas starter Cody Reed ( 1-2) on a solo home run by Patrick Wisdom and a two-run shot from Mike Ohlman.

The Cardinals put the game out of reach with four unearned runs in the fifth off Reed.

Springfield added an insurance run in the seventh when Wisdom scored on a Malcom Culver wild pitch.

Hald allowed 9 hits while striking out 6 and walking 2 for the Cardinals.

Reed gave up 7 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4 in the losing effort.

Starling and Hunter Dozier led Northwest Arkansas with two hits apiece, while Ohlman went 3-4 with 3 RBI for the Cardinals.

Sports on 07/17/2015

Upcoming Events