The Arkansas Travelers opened their season on Thursday night with some football-like numbers in Midland, Texas.
Catcher Jett Bandy and third baseman Kaleb Cowart each belted home runs and every Travelers batter had at least one hit by the fourth inning in a 20-7 victory over the Midland RockHounds at windy Security Bank Ballpark.
In a game that started with 39 mph winds, the Travelers sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the second inning. They broke the game open with a nine-run fourth inning in which they sent 13 batters to the plate. The Travelers finished with 22 hits, six of which went for extra bases, and they were 12 of 20 with runners in scoring position.
Cowart finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 5 for 6 with 5 RBI, including a two run home run in the eighth inning.
Bandy, lead-off batter Kyle Hudson and designated hitter Shawn O’Malley drove in three runs each. Drew Heid was 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored.
The Travs roughed up Midland starter Drew Granier (0-1) for 8 hits and 7 runs - all earned - in just 12/3 innings. Arkansas starter Mark Sappington did not fare much better. The Travs pitcher allowed 8 hits and 6 earned runs in 3 innings.
Ryan Chaffee (1-0) worked two innings and was awarded the victory. Chaffee gave up 2 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4. Orangel Arenas gave up 1 hit and 1 run in 3 innings of work. Carmine Giardina worked a perfect ninth.
Granier retired the first four batters he faced, but he failed to get out of the second inning. Michael Snyder lined a one-out single to right to collect the first of eight hits the Travs would produce in the frame. After a walk to Bandy, Heid drove in the game’s first run with a double to center. O’Malley drove in a run with a single.
Hudson followed with a two-run single and Alex Yarbrough made it 5-0 with a RBI double. Cowart doubled to make it 6-0 and Snyder’s second single of the inning increased the Travs’ lead to 7-0.
Midland pulled to within 8-6 after the third inning, but Arkansas responded with its nine-run inning. After a ground out to start the fourth, the Travs had 11 consecutive batters reach base before an inning-ending double play left Arkansas with a 17-6 lead.
Bandy’s three-run blast over the right-field wall and Cowart’s two-run single were the highlights of the inning.
Midland managed 11 hits, including a two-run home run by No. 9 hitter Dusty Coleman.
Today’s game ARKANSAS TRAVELERS AT MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS
WHEN 7 p.m. Central WHERE Security Bank Ballpark, Midland, Texas RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas WEBSITE travs.com PITCHERS Travelers: TBA; RockHounds: Zachary Neal (RHP, 8-12, 4.35 ERA).
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY at Midland, 7 p.m SATURDAY at Midland, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY at Frisco, 4:05 p.m.
MONDAY at Frisco, 4:05 p.m.
TUESDAY at Frisco, 11:05 a.m.
WEDNESDAY off THURSDAY Midland, 7:10 p.m.
NOTE Statistics from last season.
THURSDAY’S GAMES NW Arkansas at Frisco, ppd., rain Arkansas 20, Midland 7 Tulsa 5, Corpus Christi 4, 11 innings San Antonio 7, Springfield 4
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central NW Arkansas at Frisco, 2, 4:05 p.m.
Arkansas at Midland, 7 p.m.
Corpus Christi at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
San Antonio at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES San Antonio at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
Arkansas at Midland, 7 p.m.
NW Arkansas at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.
Corpus Christi at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAMES San Antonio at Tulsa, 2:05 p.m.
NW Arkansas at Midland, 4 p.m.
Arkansas at Frisco, 4:05 p.m.
Corpus Christi at Springfield, 4:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 04/04/2014