David Fletcher's explanation of the mood in the Arkansas Travelers' dugout through the first seven innings was backed up by the scoreboard.
"We were definitely a little lifeless," the Travs' shortstop said.
The Travs had managed 1 run on 3 hits and trailed by 4 runs. But out of nowhere, they put together an inning unlike any seen at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock this season. The Travs scored eight runs on four hits while taking advantage of an error, a catcher's interference and three walks to seal a 9-5 victory over the Springfield Cardinals.
Fletcher had a single, scored a run and drove in two with a double during his second at-bat of the inning. Jabari Henry hit a two-run single, Caleb Adams and Wade Wass each drew bases-loaded walks, and Andrew Daniel reached on a catcher's interference with the bases loaded.
It was the Travs' fourth victory when trailing after seven innings this season, and it was their highest-scoring inning at home. They regained sole possession of first place in the Texas League North Division's second-half standings and lead the Northwest Arkansas Naturals by one game with four remaining. The teams begin a three-game series Saturday in Springdale to end the regular season.
"I think we built some momentum tonight," said Fletcher, who is hitting .328 in two weeks with the team. "Hopefully, we can keep it going for the rest of the season."
The Travs were trailing 5-1 heading into the eighth, having been held to three hits by starter J.C. Sulbaran, who struck out nine batters.
"We were just trying to get to the bullpen," Henry said. "Because their starter was on today."
Robby Rowland started the eighth for the Cardinals, and the Travs pounced.
Anthony Phillips reached on an error, Fletcher hit a one-out single to left, and Alex Yarbrough walked to load the bases. Daniel then reached on a catcher's interference to score the first run, and Justin Wright came on in relief.
Henry looped a single to left to score two runs, Bo Way singled up the middle, and Caleb Adams walked to load the bases again. Wade Wass walked to drive in a run, then Phillips reached on a fielder's choice that scored another. Sean Coyle drove in another run with a single, and Fletcher ended the scoring with a two-run double.
Arkansas Manager Mark Parent liked the hits, but he didn't disguise the origin of the spark.
"From them," he said, referring to the erratic pitching. "If you get runners on and there's a chance for movement, pitchers can get tight and not throw pitches they need to."
The big inning won the game, but Parent was quick to credit reliever Eric Alonzo, who entered in the middle of the third inning for starter Jose Molina and threw four no-hit innings while striking out five.
Molina got through the first giving up only one single, but Springfield scored three runs on four singles in the second. When Luke Voit started the third with a triple and Molina walked Jonathan Rodriguez, Parent had had enough. He signaled for Alonzo from the bullpen as soon as he stepped onto the warning track from the dugout.
"I wasn't just frustrated with Molina," he said. "There's just some pitch selection issues I have with him and the catcher, and that's been going on for a while."
Despite their struggles, the Travs are all alone in first place.
"We just have to think about playing every day," Parent said. "We have to take this game as if it's just as important as game 30. That's how we do it."
Sports on 09/02/2016