TEXAS LEAGUE

Travelers’ staff at its best in bind

Northwest Arkansas’ Whit Merrifield (left) turns to apply a tag to Arkansas’ Jimmy Swift as he slides into second base Saturday during the Travelers’ 6-5 victory over the Naturals at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Northwest Arkansas’ Whit Merrifield (left) turns to apply a tag to Arkansas’ Jimmy Swift as he slides into second base Saturday during the Travelers’ 6-5 victory over the Naturals at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

SPRINGDALE - The Arkansas Travelers’ pitching staff had a split personality Saturday night against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Despite giving up a season-high 12 walks, the Travelers allowed just three hits and maintained their lead in the Texas League North Division with a 6-5 victory in front of 6,451 at Arvest Ballpark.

Arkansas starter Mark Sappington walked five Naturals in the first inning, including the first four batters he faced, but Northwest Arkansas managed to score just two runs in the inning and finished the game with only three hits.

“It was huge,” Travelers Manager Tim Bogar said of holding the Naturals to two runs in the first. “[Sappington] gives up a hit there and it could be a three-, four-, five run inning, and the way the Naturals have been swinging the bats lately we were all collectively holding our breath.”

The Naturals didn’t get a hit until a one-out double from Cheslor Cuthbert in the fifth inning, and Arkansas scored six runs over a four-inning stretch midway through the game in what proved to be all the offense it would need to win and maintain its division lead of one game over Springfield and two over the Naturals with nine games remaining in the second half of the season.

“We were either really good or really bad tonight,” Bogar said of his pitching.

Clinging to a one-run lead after the Naturals scored three in the seventh, Arkansas relievers David Carpenter and Michael Morin retired six consecutive Northwest Arkansas batters to end the game, four coming on strikeouts.

“Our hitters did a bad job tonight,” Naturals Manager Brian Poldberg said. “We got some walks, but we swung at bad pitches and didn’t take advantage of it. Every hitter was trying to hit a grand slam or a three-run home run, trying to do too much instead of just trying to get a good pitch.”

After getting out of the first-inning jam giving up just two runs, Sappington settled down and went four innings, striking out five.

“Sappington didn’t come out throwing strikes, but he made a good adjustment to get through three more innings,” Bogar said. “Every time we walked guys we ended up making pitches and not giving up hits or damage.

“Was it a lucky win? I don’t know, but I’m glad we got it.”

With the Naturals’ struggles offensively, the Travelers seemingly had the game in control after scoring two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in a four-hit seventh, including a two-run home run from Cyle Hankerd.

Northwest Arkansas took advantage of three walks and put together two of its hits in the bottom of the inning - including back-to-back singles from Jorge Bonifacio and Cheslor Cuthbert - to pull within 6-5 before the Travelers’ bullpen took over in the final two innings.

“The back end of our bullpen was pretty strong,” Bogar said. “When I can go to Carpenter and Morin with the lead late it’s a pretty good feeling, and tonight they did a great job.”

Caleb Graham (6-2) relieved Sappington in the fifth and earned the victory. Jason Bergmann (0-4) lost.

Today’s game

ARKANSAS AT NW ARKANSAS WHEN 6 p.m.

WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale RADIO KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Fayetteville;

KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas WEBSITE nwanaturals.com, travs.com PITCHERS Travelers: Lay Batista (RHP, 4-8, 3.64 ERA); Naturals: Andy Ferguson (RHP, 3-5, 5.29) TICKETS $12 super premium, $10 premium, $8 reserved, $6 grass berm

PROMOTIONS Bark in the Ballpark and bring your dog to the game for free. Kids eat free, can run the bases after the game and enjoy an appearance by SpongeBob SquarePants.

NATURALS WEEK AHEAD

TODAY vs. Arkansas, 6 p.m.

MONDAY vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.

TRAVELERS WEEK AHEAD

TODAY at NW Arkansas, 6 p.m.

MONDAY at NW Arkansas, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY at NW Arkansas, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY vs. Springfield, 7:10 p.m.

THURSDAY vs. Springfield, 7:10 p.m.

FRIDAY vs. Springfield, 7:10 p.m.

SATURDAY vs. NW Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAMES Arkansas 6, NW Arkansas 5 Midland 8, Frisco 3 Springfield 4, Tulsa 1 San Antonio 10, Corpus Christi 2

TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Arkansas at NW Arkansas, 6 p.m.

Midland at Frisco, 6:05 p.m.

Corpus Christi at San Antonio, 6:05 p.m.

Springfield at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES Arkansas at NW Arkansas, 7 p.m.

Midland at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

Springfield at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.

Corpus Christi at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.

Sports, Pages 34 on 08/25/2013

Upcoming Events