Phillip Wellman is in his 15th season as a minor-league manager and has coached at various levels for three decades, so he’s used to seeing players come and go.
The expected turnover is hitting his Arkansas Travelers more harshly than usual, though.
Corpus Christi used a threerun seventh inning to erase Drew Rucinski’s six shutout innings in a 3-1 victory Thursday night in front of an announced crowd of 4,647 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. The Travs were held scoreless over the final eight innings while using their seventh different lineup in as many games, a regular shuffling that has been brought on by 13 roster changes over the last 10 days.
“We’ve got more coming, too,” Wellman said. “It’s difficult conversations to have. The hardest part is releasing guys because you’re crushing some kid’s dream. But, it’s a risk you take at this level. We’ve all been released.”
The Travs’ latest moves, and possibly most significant changes, happened Thursday. The Los Angeles Angels moved starting pitchers Mark Sappington and Yeiper Castillo from Class AA Arkansas down to Class A Inland Empire.
Sappington’s demotion wasn’t a surprise considering he was 1-4 with a 6.44 ERA in nine starts this year. Sappington is a year removed from compiling a 3.37 ERA in 22 Class A starts and spending the last month at Arkansas. He entered this season as the Angels’ No. 5 prospect according to Baseball America, but has struggled with his control.
Wellman said he’s not sure when, or if, to expect Sappington back this season.
“It’s up to him,” he said. “He texted me today and said ‘Thanks for the support, and I’ll see you when I get right, when I deserve to come back.’ He’s an accountable young man.”
In the meantime, the Travs will receive Inland Empire starters Nate Smith and Kyle McGowin to fill the holes, and Rucinski will be expected to keep churning out quality starts. He did his part Thursday when he held the Hooks scoreless over 6 innings, giving up 6 hits and striking out 2 and exiting with a 1-0 lead.
Rucinski, who was pitching in the independent Frontier League a year ago, lowered his ERA to 2.89 and his 8.86 strikeouts per nine innings is third highest in the Texas League.
“He’s got a good sneaky fastball, he’s long through his motion and it has some deception to it,” Hooks interim manager Mark Bailey said. “He pitched very well. I was impressed.”
It wasn’t enough to keep the Travs from losing for the fourth time in their last five games.
Adam Melker gave the Travs a 1-0 lead when he doubled to lead off the first and scored on Brian Hernandez’s ground out. After that, Hooks starter Kyle Smith held the Travs scoreless for five innings and two relievers did so for the final three innings.
Corpus Christi took the lead in the seventh when reliever Brandon Sisk hit Leo Heras, gave up a double to Tyler Heineman and walked Telvin Nash to load the bases. After David Carpenter got Delino Deshields Jr. to pop out, a wild pitch scored Heras and Nolan Fontana hit a two-run single to make it 3-1.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS VS. CORPUS CHRISTI
WHEN 7:10 p.m. WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas WEBSITE travs.com
PITCHERS Travelers: Orangel Arenas (RHP 3-1, 2.67 ERA), Hooks: Brady Rodgers (RHP, 1-5, 4.11) TICKETS Gates open 1 hour before first pitch. $12 box; $8 reserved ($5 children); $6 general admission ($4 children) PROMOTIONS Travelers minibat giveaway.
SHORT HOPS Right-handed pitcher Mark Sappington and right-hander Yeiper Castillo were sent to Class A Inland Empire from Class AA Arkansas on Thursday. Sappington, the Los Angeles Angels’ No. 5 prospect according to Baseball America, is 1-4 with a 6.44 ERA in 9 starts this season. Castillo is 3-3 with a 5.36 ERA in 8 starts. The Travs received left-hnader Nate Smith (6-3, 3.07) and right-hander Kyle McGowin (1-5, 2.93) from Inland Empire.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m. SATURDAY San Antonio, 7:10 p.m. SUNDAY San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. MONDAY San Antonio, 2:10 p.m. TUESDAY at Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m. WEDNESDAY at Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m. THURSDAY at Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
San Antonio 2, Northwest Arkansas 1 Corpus Christi 3, Arkansas 1
Tulsa 7, Frisco 2 Midland 6, Springfield 1
TODAY’S GAMES
All times Central
Springfield at Midland, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
Tulsa at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.
Corpus Christi at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
Sports on 05/23/2014