Tim Bogar thought Kaleb Cowart was getting another pitch with the tying run on third base in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday night.
But home plate umpire Will Thornewell’s delayed strike call on a 1-2 count punched out Cowart and ended the Travs’ 3-2 loss to the Springfield Cardinals with the bases loaded, and elicited a short talk between Cowart and Thornewell at home plate.
“Well, I didn’t think it was a strike,” said Bogar, Arkansas’ manager. “But he had been calling them late all night.”
The last late call ended an Arkansas rally that fell short in the first game of a doubleheader at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
The Travs lost 3-0 in the second game when they again didn’t take advantage of opportunities.
Arkansas left the bases loaded in the first inning and stranded Rolando Gomez on third base after he led off the fifth with a triple.
The Travs scored 2 runs on 11 hits in the two games Friday and were a combined 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 7 in the second game. Springfield pitchers Boone Whiting and Kevin Siegrist combined to strike out 12 in the doubleheader.
It came after a road trip to Midland in which Arkansas scored 23 runs while winning two of the three games in the series.
“We had our opportunities to score runs today. We just didn’t come through and we didn’t hit very well situationally,” Bogar said. “It’s just one of those nights where, from the top of the lineup to the bottom of the lineup, we didn’t hit very well.”
The first game ended after the bases were loaded with one out in the seventh and final inning.
Trailing 3-2, Jett Bandy reached on an infield single off Springfield closer Michael Blazek, who then walked Rolando Gomez and Travis Witherspoon. But Blazek struck out Matt Long and Cowart to end the game.
It was seemingly a golden opportunity for the Travs, with Long, who later extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the second game Friday, and Cowart, who went 2 for 4 in the first game, at the plate and the potential winning run on second base.
“I’ll take my chances with those guys any time,” Bogar said.
Springfield Manager Mike Shildt had just as much confidence in Blazek, who had given up 1 earned run in five appearances before Friday.
But even after he gave up a single and two walks to load the bases, Shildt didn’t have anyone warming up in the Springfield bullpen as he watched Blazek finish off his second save in four days.
“That’s the confidence I have in him,” Shildt said. “He’s got the stuff to pitch back into games. … It’s a good opportunity for him to compete and I’m pleased with the way he competed.”
The Travs also stranded two runners in the third inning as they were unable to take advantage of opportunities wasted Manny Correa’s best outing of the season.
The Travs starter, who entered with a 9.00 ERA in two starts, gave up 1 run on 5 hits and struck out 5 in 5 innings.
He exited with the game tied 1-1. Left-handed reliever Buddy Boshers gave up a lead-off walk to Ruben Gotay to start the sixth and a two-run home run to left-handed Chris Swauger that made it 3-1.
Travelers at a glance
ARKANSAS VS. SPRINGFIELD WHEN 6:10 p.m.
WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas WEBSITE travs.com PITCHERS Travelers: RHP Matt Oye (1-1, 5.56 ERA); Cardinals: RHP Seth Blair (0-1, 11.25) TICKETS Gates open 1 hour before game. Tickets 2 box ($5 children), $6 general admission ( children) PROMOTIONS Bark in the park. Fans are allowed to bring dogs into the park. Free tickets at Rackley Furniture in Morrilton, Koontz Electric in Morrilton and at the Morrilton Chamber of Commerce.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
SUNDAY Springfield, 2:10 p.m.
MONDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
TUESDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
THURSDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:09 p.m.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Springfield 3-3, Arkansas 2-0 Tulsa 5, Northwest Arkansas 4 Corpus Christi 3, Frisco 2 San Antonio 10, Midland 0
TODAY’S GAMES
Springfield at Arkansas, 6:10 p.m.
Tulsa at Northwest Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Frisco at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.
Midland at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Frisco at Corpus Christi, 1:05 p.m.
Tulsa at Northwest Arkansas, 2 p.m.
Midland at San Antonio, 2:05 p.m.
Springfield at Arkansas, 2:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 25 on 04/20/2013