Nieves Whacks Two Bombs In Game One Win

TULSA, OK - Abel Nieves led the way with a pair of home runs (2) as the Arkansas Travelers pulled out a 4-2 victory over the Tulsa Drillers in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at ONEOK Field on Saturday. Nieves drove in three runs and was joined by right fielder Julio Perez who also launched a solo home run (5). Left hander Mike Anton (3-5) earned his first win since April 28 with six shutout innings.

With their second win in a row, the Travs improve to 25-41 while the Drillers are 28-37.

Anton's outing wasn't without some trouble as he walked two batters in the first inning and was late to throw on a sacrifice bunt allowing the bases to get loaded with no outs. But he got Scott Beerer to fly out to right field and backed up a wild throw from Perez as Anthony Jackson held third base. Anton then recorded the first of his five strikeouts when he punched out Daniel Mayora and left the bases loaded when Wilin Rosario grounded out.

The Travs stepped in front of the Drillers the very next inning as Ryan Mount dragged a beautiful bunt along the first base line for a leadoff single. Nieves then yanked a fly ball over the left field fence for a 2-0 Travs lead.

Nieves came up in the fourth inning and socked a home run to the opposite field for a 3-0 lead. Perez's home run in the sixth inning, a line drive shot to left field, made it a 4-0 Travs advantage.

Tulsa lefty Brandon Durden (3-5) allowed all four Travs runs on three homers and now leads the Texas League with 13 home runs allowed. All told Durden gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out three.

Anton struck out the side in the second inning giving up only a two-out single by Jason Van Kooten. Beginning a string of 12 consecutive outs, Anton struck out Jackson for the third out.

He left the game after leaving runners at second and third in the sixth. Anton's line was six shutout innings on two hits, three walks and five strikeouts as he picked up his second win over Tulsa.

Right hander Jeremy Haynes was summoned for the seventh. He tossed two scoreless innings and erased leadoff walks both innings with a double play.

Jordan Walden came in for the ninth and struggled allowing a pair of runs. A one-out walk to Wilin Rosario was followed by a single from Kiel Roling. Warren Schaeffer ruined the shutout bid with an RBI double into right field scoring Rosario. Walden got the second out when Van Kooten hit a high bouncer to third base, but while Jackson was batting a passed ball charged to Brian Walker brought in Roling to cut the lead to 4-2. Walden, though, got Jackson to pop out to center to end the game.

Time of game was 2:39 and the paid attendance was 5,244.

The second game will begin at 7:05 p.m. tonight with Travs right hander Tommy Mendoza (0-1, 4.50) pitching against Greg Reynolds (0-2, 14.04).