Wade Hinkle didn't break out of his weekend-long slump Sunday, but he did just enough to give the Arkansas Travelers another one-run victory over the Tulsa Drillers.
Hinkle's sacrifice fly to center field in the eighth inning was deep enough to score tagging Sherman Johnson from third base, and the Travs beat the Drillers 2-1 in 11 innings in front of an announced crowd of 6,239 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS AT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
WHEN 7:05 p.m.
WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas; KFAY-AM, 1030, in Springdale
WEBSITE travs.com, nwanaturals.com PITCHERS Travs: Kyle McGowin (RHP, 3-2, 6.82 ERA); Naturals: TBA
TICKETS $12 super premium, $10 premium, $8 reserved, $7 grass berm.
PROMOTIONS Buy one, get one free tickets for Ozarks Electric Cooperative customers, $1 hot dogs and a chance to play baseball bingo.
TRAVELERS WEEK AHEAD
TODAY at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
TUESDAY at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY at NW Arkansas, 11:05 a.m.
THURSDAY at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
SUNDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
NATURALS WEEK AHEAD
TODAY Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
TUESDAY Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Arkansas, 11:05 a.m.
THURSDAY Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY Tulsa 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY Tulsa 6:05 p.m.
SUNDAY Tulsa 6:05 p.m.
The game-winning RBI ended a four-game series in which the Travs hit only .175 and were held to nine total runs, but won three games thanks to their pitching and by taking advantage of their opportunities late in games -- especially against the Drillers.
Sunday's game was the ninth decided by one run in 12 games against the Drillers this season. The Travs have won seven of those, including three this series. Four of the Travs' victories over the Drillers have come in their final at bat.
"It's tremendous for their development," Arkansas Manager Bill Richardson said. "The more they're there, the more they get used to that environment. That's all you can ask for. The way we take care of the baseball and the way we're pitching it, it's going to give us a chance."
It was also good for Richardson to see one of his most struggling hitters drive in the winning run.
Hinkle entered Sunday's game 1 for 11 in the first three games of the series and 4 for 25 over the first seven games of the homestand. Things didn't improve Sunday when the first baseman flew out twice, grounded out once and walked in his first four plate appearances.
That's part of why Hinkle wasn't surprised when after Johnson doubled to lead off the 11th and moved to third on Drew Maggi's sacrifice bunt that Tulsa pitcher Blake Smith intentionally walked Brian Hernandez and Cal Towey to load the bases to get to Hinkle.
Hinkle said he wasn't insulted by the two walks, instead saying he understood the strategy.
"They challenged me," he said.
Hinkle worked the count full, then fouled off a pitch before lofting one to center field, which was caught by center fielder Travis Witherspoon but Johnson scored easily to cap a homestand in which the Travs went 3-5 and Hinkle hit .071, but all left pleased with Sunday's outcome.
"Obviously it was a tough weekend for me individually," Hinkle said. "But it's just one of those things where you've got to move on. The game of baseball is never an easy game. I just keep fighting and grinding and keep doing my thing."
The Travs were able to get to extra innings thanks to Nate Smith's best start in three weeks.
The Los Angeles Angels' 11th best pitching prospect according to Baseball America won his first three starts this season, but posted a 7.04 ERA over his previous three starts -- all losses -- entering Sunday.
Smith held Tulsa to 1 run on 5 hits and struck out 6 over 7 innings. The only run he gave up came in the fifth when he walked Peter Lavin and gave up a double to Ali Solis to put runners at second and third. Smith then tried to flip Brad Dixon's chopper in front of the mound with his glove to catcher Zach Wright, but missed the ball and Lavin scored to tie the game at 1-1.
Smith didn't factor into the decision while throwing 98 pitches, but retired the last eight batters he faced.
"I wish I could bump his pitch-count up because I'd really like to see what another inning does for him," Richardson said. "You have to back up a tow truck to get him off that hill, and when he's your guy, you really feel bad for him."
NATURALS 3, CARDINALS 2 (10)
Northwest Arkansas defeated the Springfield Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in the first extra-inning game of the year for the Naturals. Hunter Dozier, batting with one out in the bottom of the 10th, hit a home run off Iden Nazario on a 2-0 pitch to give the Naturals the victory.
Dozier went 2 for 5 and Balbino Fuenmayor added two singles to lead the Naturals' offense. The Northwest Arkansas bullpen combined for 4 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit.
Sports on 05/18/2015