What at one point appeared a comfortable margin for the Arkansas Travelers depended in the end on a running catch that appeared in doubt from the start.
It took center fielder Bo Way's long run and leaping catch at the warning track to preserve the Travelers' 7-6 victory Sunday night at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
Arkansas led 7-2 after six innings, but two Tulsa runs in the sixth, an eighth-inning home run by Tyler Ogle, and another in the ninth by Willie Calhoun left the Travelers and right-handed reliever Eduardo Paredes with a one-run lead.
Cody Bellinger doubled with two outs in the ninth for Tulsa. With Arkansas' outfield in, Jacob Savuzzo hit a line drive to right-center field that looked as if it would knock in the tying run, but Way got a good jump on the ball to finish off the Travelers' victory.
"He hit it well, man," Way said. "I was kind of nervous. We were shallow, and he struck that ball well, so it was kind of nerve wracking."
"He might've been a little too shallow," Arkansas Manager Mark Parent said. "Sure, you don't want the guy on second to score, but you don't want to give up a double either, but he got there in a hurry and made a great play."
Tulsa turned the first three pitches of the game into two hits and ultimately as many runs.
Arkansas starter Jordan Kippler struggled in the third after a walk and a single put two on with no outs. A sacrifice advanced both runners, but second baseman Sean Coyle ended the threat, snagging a line drive to double off Tim Locastro at first.
Kippler (9-5) pitched through 6 1/3 innings, allowing 3 earned runs.
"He couldn't seem to do anything right at the start, but Kippler really settled down and pitched well," Parent said. "He did what he had to do for us."
The Travelers started the third inning with two walks against Tulsa right-hander Jeremy Kehrt (4-5) and would go on to score five runs highlighted by Coyle's steal of home.
The walks and a bunt single by shortstop Anthony Phillips loaded the bases with no outs and led to Coyle's two-run double. Coyle moved to third on an RBI ground out by Tim Arakawa. Andrew Daniel walked and stole second. As his attempt unfolded, Ogle tossed to second, and Coyle stole home with ease to give Arkansas a 4-2 lead.
The fifth run came when designated hitter Alex Yarbrough's single scored Daniel.
Arkansas's lead would expanded in the sixth inning on Daniel's two-out, two RBI single.
Tulsa cut Arkansas' lead to 7-4 in the seventh inning, but the Travelers managed to prevent any further damage.
"We've been playing well," Parent said. "Our hitters are finally starting to get back to the basics and do what they've had the potential to do all season."
Sports on 07/25/2016