Another 1-run victory for Travs

The Arkansas Travelers needed some help to finally take advantage of a scoring opportunity Thursday night.

Drew Maggi's line drive to right field skipped off the tip of Tyson Gillies' glove, allowing Jared Mitchell to score the game's only run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Travs beat the San Antonio Missions 1-0 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

The play was ruled an error on Gillies, meaning the Travs completed a three-game sweep of the Missions on Thursday without the benefit of an earned run and finished the night 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

It was par for the course for these Travs, who matched their longest winning streak of the season with their sixth consecutive victory in front of an announced crowd of 5,031.

"Let's put it this way: In a one-run ballgame, there's no other team I'd rather be in a fight with," Travelers Manager Bill Richardson said.

All three of the Travs' victories in the series came by one run and seven consecutive games played at Dickey-Stephens Park have been decided by a single run, six of which the Travs have won. Their 14 one-run victories this season are tied for the most in the minor leagues.

"Ever since I got here, I feel like every game is a one-run game," said Mitchell, who joined the Travs as a free agent May 15. "But it's fun. Guys come out and we play together, and it's a good, nice, loose group. So it makes it easier to play in these situations."

Mitchell, a first-round draft pick in 2009 acquired by the Los Angeles Angels when he was released by the Chicago White Sox, had his best night as a Traveler.

The former LSU standout doubled in the third, but was stranded on third base, singled in the sixth, but was stranded, and hit a one-out single in the ninth before stealing second base and scoring on the game-ending error. Mitchell entered Thursday hitting .167, but his first three-hit game since last Aug. 21, 2014, raised it to .235.

"It's good to get the ball rolling, but one day is one day," Mitchell said. "You've got to do it every day. It's all about consistency in this game."

Pitching has been the Travs' most consistent area during the winning streak. Right-hander Kyle McGowin retired the first seven batters he faced and didn't give up a hit until Trea Turner's one-out triple to right field in the fourth. McGowin escaped that jam, pitched a perfect fifth, didn't allow a hit in the sixth and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.

Kurt Spomer then pitched two hitless innings to get the victory. Richardson was most proud of McGowin, though, who held San Antonio to three hits and extended his streak without giving up an earned run to 15 consecutive innings.

"He's really gained momentum," Richardson said. "I'm proud of him."

The Travs struggled with the opportunities they created for themselves. Arkansas left 10 runners on base, including five in scoring position, before Maggi finally came through to earn a victory for a team that has been carried by its pitching staff.

The Travs have a 1.44 ERA in their six-game winning streak, while averaging 3.3 runs per game in the same stretch.

"We keep pitching and taking care of the baseball, we'll be in every ballgame and that's what we're doing," Richardson said. "As an offense, do we try anything different? No. Stay with them, and they'll figure it out, just like tonight."

NATURALS 3, HOOKS 2

Trailing 2-1, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a victory over the Corpus Christi Hooks in front of an announced crowd of 3,414 at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

Naturals first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor, who went 2 for 4 with a run scored, started the bottom of the sixth with a single to left field. Third baseman Hunter Dozier followed with a single, and Fuenmayor scored on a single by catcher Zane Evans to tie the game at 2-2. After left fielder Alex Liddi struck out, Dozier was thrown out at home as designated hitter Kenny Diekroeger reached on a fielder’s choice and Evans moved to second base. Center fielder Ethan Chapman walked to load the bases, which ended the night for Corpus Christi starter Mark Appel. Left fielder Terrance Gore then hit a bunt single, scoring Evans to put the Naturals ahead 3-2. Gore finished 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored.

J.C. Sulbaran (4-3) got the victory for the Naturals, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts in 6 innings. Mark Peterson pitched two innings of scoreless relief and Benino Pruneda picked up his first save of the season after striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Sports on 05/29/2015