Alex Yarbrough figured it out the third time.
The Arkansas Travelers' second baseman struck out in his first two at-bats against Northwest Arkansas starter Tim Melville on Tuesday night, but in his third he pulled a three-run triple down the right field line to lead the Travs to a 4-3 victory in front of an announced crowd of 3,188 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
Yarbrough later scored on a Zach Borenstein double to left-center field to cap a four-run fifth inning as the Travs finally got to Melville to break their three-game losing streak and the Naturals' season-long four-game winning streak.
"I really had no idea what was coming in any count," Yarbrough said of his first two at-bats. "He threw it well tonight, and we were lucky to put together an inning."
Three of Arkansas' six hits off Melville came in the decisive fifth inning as the Travs handed the 24-year-old his third loss of the season. It came after Melville had baffled almost every Trav the first two times through the order.
Melville struck out 10 over four shutout innings, including four consecutive batters at one point. Then he allowed a leadoff walk to Anderson De La Rosa on four pitches in the fifth, and the Travs seized on the opportunity.
"He just lost that one at-bat," Naturals Manager Vance Wilson said. "You hate to see a guy have that first four innings and then very quickly they drop a four spot. ... For him to get over the hump, when he goes ball one, ball two, he's got to get back in the strike zone."
After the walk, Vance Albitz followed with a double and Andy Workman walked to load the bases. Adam Melker struck out, but that brought up Yarbrough, the Travs' most consistent hitter. After taking a strike, Yarbrough ripped a line drive just to the left of the first base-line.
Yarbrough's triple not only gave the Travs a 3-1 lead, but it was the Texas League-leading 45th hit of the season for the 23-year-old who led the minor leagues in hits a year ago.
Arkansas Manager Phillip Wellman said before the season started that he expected newcomers to Class AA like Yarbrough to struggle through the first month. He has seen little of that from Yarbrough. Wellman compared his transition to this level to that of current St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams, whom Wellman coached at Springfield in 2011.
"He's probably the only guy that goes right in there and doesn't miss a beat," Wellman said of Yarbrough. "You can just see he's a special hitter. [Adams] didn't miss a beat. It takes a special guy not to miss a beat."
The four-run fifth helped Orangel Arenas earn the victory in a spot start. Thrust into Tuesday's start because of Friday's doubleheader, Arenas gave up a fifth-inning home run to Whit Merrifield while scattering seven hits and striking out two.
Buddy Boshers, who arrived from Class AAA Salt Lake on Tuesday, pitched two shutout innings before struggling to get through a third for the first time this season. Boshers gave up two runs in the eighth before David Carpenter prevented any more damage, and Cam Bedrosian struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fourth save.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS VS. NW ARKANSAS
WHEN 11:10 a.m. WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas; KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Northwest Arkansas WEBSITE travs.com and nwanaturals. com PITCHERS Travelers: Kramer Sneed (LHP, 3-3, 3.72 ERA); Naturals: Sam Selman (LHP, 2-2, 2.83) PROMOTIONS Find a coupon for $3 off a ticket at centarl Arkansas Shell stations or wherever Reddy ice is sold.
TRAVELERS WEEK AHEAD TODAY NW Arkansas, 11 a.m. THURSDAY NW Arkansas, 7:10 p.m. FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m. SATURDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m. SUNDAY at Springfield, 2:10 p.m. MONDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m. TUESDAY off
NATURALS WEEK AHEAD
TODAY at Arkansas, 11 a.m. THURSDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m. FRIDAY Tulsa, 7:05 p.m. SATURDAY Tulsa, 6:05 p.m. SUNDAY Tulsa, 2:05 p.m. MONDAY at Tulsa, 11:05 a.m. TUESDAY off TUESDAY’S GAMES
Arkansas 4, NWArkansas 3
Frisco 5, Midland 4 Tulsa 5-9, Springfield 4-0 San Antonio 7, Corpus Christi 4
TODAY’S GAMES
All times Central
NW Arkansas at Arkansas, 11 a.m.
Corpus Christi at San Antonio, 11:05 p.m Springfield at Tulsa, 12:05 p.m. Frisco at Midland, 6:30 p.m.
Sports on 05/14/2014