Arkansas’ bats finally woke up against Aaron Brooks.
Cyle Hankerd touched Brooks for a two-run home run in the fifth inning to help the Travelers beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 4-1 before an announced crowd of 3,146 on Monday night at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
With the victory, the Travelers moved into a first-place tie with Naturals in the Texas League North Division. Both teams are 21-17 in the second half of the season.
In their last meeting, Wednesday in Springdale, Brooks pitched a four-hit complete game shutout, striking out five in a 7-0 victory. He was subsequently named Texas League Pitcher of the Week.
But his fourth start this season against the Travelers didn’t go quite as smoothly.
“We took advantage of the situations when we had to,” Travelers Manager Tim Bogar said. “I think Brooks threw the ball really well tonight. He just made a couple of mistakes, and we didn’t miss them.”
Especially, in the tell-tale fifth inning.
The Travelers scored three runs to snap a 1-1 tie, a flurry punctuated by Hankerd’s third home run this season.
Jimmy Swift led off the inning with a double to left. Swift scored two batters later when Taylor Lindsey lined a triple to the right-center wall.
Hankerd followed with a home run to left-center.
Brooks (5-4) allowed 9 hits and 4 runs, all earned, in 7 innings.
“It’s not like we hit him all over the park,” Bogar said. “We just got hits when we needed them. Lindsey got a big hit and then he hung a curve ball to Hankerd, and he did what he was supposed to do with it.”
Arkansas starter Lay Batista (4-7) was the winner after allowing only 3 hits and 1 run in 5 innings. He didn’t allow a hit until Orlando Calixte led off the fourth with a single.
Batista was the loser Wednesday against the Naturals, allowing 1 run and 3 hits in 4 innings. It was his first start since being placed on the disabled list July 6 because of right elbow soreness.
Batista threw 70 pitches Monday, including 40 strikes. He wasn’t on a pitch count, Bogar said.
“It was more of an effort level,” Bogar said. “He had couple of stressful innings that he got through. Looked like he was getting a little bit tired, so we wanted him to end on a good note.”
Three relievers held the Naturals hitless over the final four innings, with Michael Morin pitching the ninth to record his second save.
Naturals center fielder Brett Eibner, a former University of Arkansas standout, was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Texas League standings x-won first half MONDAY’S GAMES Arkansas 4, Northwest Arkansas 1 Midland 3, Frisco 2 Springfield 7, Tulsa 3 San Antonio 4, Corpus Christi 3TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Frisco at Midland, 6:30 p.m.
Springfield at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
Corpus Christi at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.
Northwest Arkansas at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
At a glance
NW ARKANSAS AT ARKANSAS WHEN 7:10 p.m. today WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas; KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Fayetteville.
WEBSITE travs.com, nwnaturals.com PITCHERS Travelers: RHP Brandon Hynick (9-3, 2.50 ERA); Naturals: RHP Andy Ferguson (2-3, 5.02) TICKETS Gates open 1 hour before game. Tickets are $12 box, $8 reserved ($5 children); $6 general admission ($4 children) SHORT HOPS Northwest Arkansas is scheduled to start former Arkansas State pitcher Andy Ferguson of Benton tonight. … Travelers left-handed reliever Nick Maronde was recalled by the Los Angeles Angels on Monday morning to fill the roster spot of left-handed pitcher Scott Downs, who was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Maronde was 1-1 with 18 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA in 14 1/3 innings in July for Arkansas. It’s thefifth time Maronde or Travs left-handed pitcher Michael Roth have been recalled this season. … Northwest Arkansas outfielder Brian Fletcher was named Texas League Player of the Week after hitting four home runs last week. Fletcher was transferred to Class AAA Omaha on Monday, while Northwest Arkansas received outfielder Jorge Bonifacio from Class A-Advanced Wilmington. Bonifacio, the No. 5 prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization according to MLB.com, was batting .296 with 11 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs and 29 RBI in 54 games at Wilmington. Bonifacio is the younger brother of Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.
TRAVELERS WEEK AHEAD TODAY NW Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
WEDNESDAY NW Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
THURSDAY Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
FRIDAY Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SUNDAY Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
MONDAY Off
Sports, Pages 15 on 07/30/2013