TEXAS LEAGUE

Late lapses send Travs to fourth consecutive loss

Arkansas Travelers Manager Phillip Wellman isn't worried about what his team's first losing streak in almost six weeks has done to its lead in the Texas League North Division standings.

At least, not yet.

Wellman was more upset Tuesday night about a plethora of mental mistakes that cost the Travs in a 3-2 loss to the Tulsa Drillers in front of an announced crowd of 3,519 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

The Travs lost their fourth consecutive game when Mike Bianucci's throwing error from right field led to a run, and a miscommunication in a tied game in the ninth inning led to the eventual winning run.

The only consolation for the Travs was that second-place Northwest Arkansas lost to Springfield, meaning the Travs still lead the North Division second-half standings by six games with 14 games remaining.

Not that Wellman is watching the standings.

"I don't have any concern except for my ball club playing the best they can possibly play," Wellman said.

They didn't do that Tuesday in the opening game of an eight-game, seven-day homestand.

With the game tied 1-1 in the fourth, Tulsa's Trevor Story reached on a fielder's choice. He rounded second base after Jayson Langfels' single to right field, but Story scored when Bianucci -- playing right field for just the second time in five weeks -- threw a ball into the seats along the third-base line to make it 2-1.

"It's basic stuff that has nothing to do with talent and ability," Wellman said. "It has to do with focus and concentration."

After Bianucci's single scored Alex Yarbrough to tie the game 2-2 in the eighth, the Drillers took the lead again in the top of the ninth.

Brian Humphries hit a two-out single and stole second base. Catcher Jett Bandy and Wellman said Humphries took off too early and players yelled for Trevor Gott to step off the mound and throw to first, but Gott delivered a pitch and Bandy had no chance to throw him out at second base.

Story then singled to left-field to drive in the eventual winning run.

"He got a good jump, and we yelled to step off and he was already in his delivery," Bandy said. "That's what happens sometimes. I had no chance."

Tyler Anderson, who had held the Travs to four earned runs in eight starts before Tuesday, held them to 2 hits over 7 innings while striking out 4. But the Travs had an opportunity to beat him for the first time this season, and Bandy twice came within a couple of feet of hitting his team-leading 12th home run.

His drive on a 1-0 pitch in the fourth inning was caught at the left-field wall by Humphries, and he flew out to almost the same spot in the seventh.

"It's a close game and everyone wants to win, we're competitors," he said. "You've got to move on and keep grinding at it.

CARDINALS 9, NATURALS 8

Springfield held a 7-0 lead after batting in the top of the first inning but had to hold on for a victory in front of an announced crowd of 3,935 at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

Naturals starter Tim Melville allowed 6 of the 7 runs on 4 hits and had 2 walks in two-thirds of an inning. Catcher Parker Morin also had a passed ball.

Tilson, designated hitter Cody Stanley and first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez all went 2 for 5 to lead the Cardinals. Center fielder Lane Adams led the Naturals, going 3 for 5 with 1 run scored, while designated hitter Brian Fletcher went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI.

The Cardinals took the lead for good in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on three hits with a throwing error by Orlando Calixte and a wild pitch by reliever Brandon Finnegan.

Sports on 08/20/2014

Upcoming Events