Travs Take Out Tulsa Sunday

North Little Rock, AR-- Sunday night at Dickey-Stephens Park the Arkansas Travelers topped the Tulsa Drillers, 7-2. The win helped the Travs salvage the series split, and also kept Arkansas atop the North Division Standings with Northwest Arkansas. The Travs and Naturals begin a three-game series in Springdale on Monday night.

 

Arkansas was limited to two hits in Friday's 2-0 loss to the Naturals, but after exploding for 14 hits in a 6-5 win in ten innings on Saturday, the Travs continued the offensive resurgence. Arkansas went down in order in the first inning to Sean Gallagher, but over the next seven innings went down in order only once. 

 

Arkansas broke the scoreless tie in the third inning after Gallagher allowed Ryan Jones to reach with a leadoff walk. After moving to second on a groundout by Jimmy Swift, Randal Grichuk hit a double past the third base bag to score Jones. Two batters later Robbie Widlansky drove in Grichuk with a single to left to put the Travs up, 2-0.

 

Tulsa got a run back in the fourth inning against Arkansas RH Drew Carpenter. Carpenter, who allowed two-out hits in the first three innings, retired the first two in the fourth before allowing a two-out homer to Dustin Garneau on the 11th pitch of the at bat. The blast marked Garneau's fourth against the Travs this year, and pulled the Drillers within a run.

 

The Travs got the run back in the fifth inning against Gallagher. Swift delivered a one-out single, and two batters later Lindsey provided his first hit of the game. With two runners on, Widlansky singled into center. Swift came home and the Travs led 3-1.

 

The Travs chased Gallagher in the sixth and broke the game wide open. Arkansas batted around in the sixth inning and scored four times. Kaleb Cowart walked to start the inning before Travis Witherspoon singled into right-center. Cowart was off with the pitch and ended up scoring from first on the ball hit by Witherspoon to put the Travs up 4-1. 

 

Arkansas continued with and RBI-single by Swift, and two batters later Lindsey picked up his first run batted in of the game when he singled to score Swift. Now leading 6-1, Gallagher left in favor of Leuris Gomez. Gomez was greeted by Widlansky, and yet again Widlansky came through by smacking a single to center for his third straight RBI-single of the game.

 

The Travs six run lead was plenty for Drew Carpenter and the rest of the Arkansas staff. Carpenter retired the final seven batters he faced before leaving after six innings on the mound. 

 

Elvin Ramirez took over in the seventh, and surrendered a run on a single by Jayson Langfels that scored Tyler Kuhn. However, Caleb Graham and Nick Maronde combined for the final six outs to help the Travs win 7-2.

 

Robbie Widlansky and Taylor Lindsey each had three hits to lead Arkansas. 

 

Drew Carpenter earned his second win in as many starts against Tulsa, and is now 2-1. Sean Gallagher dropped his second straight start against the Travs to fall to 4-5. 

 

Arkansas begins a seven game road trip on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. against Northwest Arkansas. In the opener, Arkansas RH Manny Correa faces NWA RH Jason Adam. Coverage of the game begins a 6:40 p.m. with the Travs Dugout Show on Sports Animal 920.