Comeback Travs win fifth-straight

Trailing 3-0 in the first, Arkansas scored five runs over the first two innings to take the lead & never relinquished it.

By Robbie Aaron

May 28, 2015

North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers won their fifth-straight one-run home game with a 5-4 victory over the San Antonio Missions on Wednesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park.

The Missions jumped on top early with three runs in the first inning, but Arkansas countered with three of its own in the bottom of the first to immediately re-tie the game.

Trailing 3-0, 2B Sherman Johnson singled to right to start things off. With Johnson on first, SS Eric Stamets ripped a line drive double off the wall in left to plate Johnson and get the Travs on the board. 3B Brian Hernandez hammered an RBI double to center to cut the deficit to 3-2 and CF Kentrail Davis lined an two-out RBI single to center to tie the game.

Arkansas scored two more runs in the second on a RF Cal Towey bases loaded walk and Hernandez RBI groundout.

LHP Nate Smith (W, 4-4) surrendered the three runs in the first inning, but settled in nicely recording four 1-2-3 innings over his next five frames. In total, Smith allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

RHP Austin Adams worked the seventh and eighth innings for Arkansas, and allowed the tying run to reach third in both frames, but maneuvered out of both jams.

LHP Chris O'Grady (S, 2) worked a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts to earn his second save in three days.

All nine Travelers starters reached base safely.

Former Angels farmhand RHP Elliot Morris (L, 1-4) allowed the five runs over five innings of work. The Travs picked up nine hits off Morris with four walks and three strikeouts.

C Anthony Bemboom finished 2-for-3 with a run and Stamets went 2-for-5 with the run, double and RBI.

Johnson scored two runs to add on to his league-leading total (35) and Hernandez' two RBIs give him a league-best 37.

Arkansas improved to 19-1 when leading after seven innings.

With the win, Arkansas has picked up victories in five-straight and moved to within 3.5 games of Northwest Arkansas for first place in the Texas League North.

The Travs and Missions will play the series finale on Thursday at Dickey-Stephens Park. RHP Kyle McGowin (4-2, 5.56) will face RHP Casey Kelly (1-3, 4.00). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.