Kyle McGowin's bullpen session was so bad before Sunday's game that pitching coach Pat Rice suggested the right-hander stop and start over.
"He threw three strikes," Rice said.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS VS. NW ARKANSAS
WHEN 1:10 p.m.
WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas; KFAY-AM, 1030, in Springdale
WEBSITE travs.com, nwanturals.com
PITCHERS Travelers: Albert Suarez (RHP, 10-9, 3.04 ERA); Naturals: TBD
TICKETS Gates open 1 hour before first pitch. $12 box, $8 reserved, $6 general admission.
McGowin was much better when he took the mound against Northwest Arkansas for the Arkansas Travelers, who are trying to remain in the second-half playoff race in the Texas League North.
McGowin pitched six shutout innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 8 in the Travs' 3-1 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
The victory ensured that the Travs will enter today, the last day of the regular season, with a shot at making the playoffs. They began Sunday day tied with the Springfield Cardinals, who would get the playoff spot if the teams finish the second half tiedbecause the Cardinals own a better record in head-to-head play, which is the tiebreaker.
But at least the Travs' will take the field at 1 p.m. today with a shot at making the playoffs.
"We've been put under a lot of pressure lately and then we haven't been doing so good under pressure," McGowin said of the Travs, who had won two of 10 entering Sunday. "So, I've been trying to not think about it and just go throw the ball."
McGowin (9-9, 4,38 ERA) laughed when asked about his bullpen session. McGowin said he thought it was as bad as Rice and Arkansas Manager Bill Richardson did, but wasn't nearly as worried as those two.
"Usually, the worse my bullpen is the better I am in the game," McGowin said. "Today, definitely was one of my worst, I'd say."
McGowin yielded leadoff singles in the second and third, hit a batter in the fourth but never let a batter reach second base while exiting with a 2-0 lead.
"On a day like this, when it means something and he knows it, it's tremendous," Richardson said.
McGowin pitched with the lead from the second inning on.
Arkansas' Chad Hinshaw reached on a fielder's choice in the first, stole second base and scored on Blake Gailen's single up the middle to make it 1-0.
The Travs took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on Cal Towey's home run to right field. It was Towey's second home in 313 at bats this season, and his first in 151 at bats at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Richardson credited Towey's persistence during a disappointing season as the reason he penciled Towey second in the batting order Sunday.
Richardson said Towey, hitting .217, visited him in the clubhouse Saturday and asked for more playing time.
"I wanted high-energy guys for a game like this," Richardson said. "We were looking for a pep. You can expect him in there tomorrow."
The Travs final run came in the seventh when Sherman Johnson walked and scored after Drew Maggi's pop up behind the pitching mound was dropped by Naturals' third baseman Hunter Dozier. The Naturals didn't score until the ninth when Ramon Torres doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly.
If the Travelers make the playoffs, they'll begin a five-game Texas League Division Series on Wednesday at Northwest Arkansas, which won the North Division first half but is in third place in the second half. Manager Vance Wilson said he still likes the team he has heading into the playoffs, considering its 3.12 team ERA in August was the lowest in the Texas League.
"To me, when you get toward the end of the season, if you're pitching well, your starters are going deep, you've got a pretty good shot. The pitching and defense have to be there for the playoffs."
Sports on 09/07/2015