Tulsa Drillers Edge Frazzled Arkansas Travelers 5-4 in 16 - AA, Texas League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, Arkansas - The Arkansas Travelers' (33-33) third comeback attempt of the night fell short with the Travs losing 5-4 in 16 innings.  Trailing 3-0 before their first at bat, the Travelers came back to tie the game in the eighth inning and the 15th but were unable to score in the 16th.  Stephen Marek (2-4) was saddled with the loss, pitching 1.2 innings and yielding one run.

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Arkansas had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 16th but were unable to push across a run.  Brian Stavisky flew out to left to end the game and stranded the Travs 14th baserunner of the night.

The Drillers stranded 19 runners in the game.

Nate Sutton opened the scoring for the Travs when he hit a solo homer to lead off the sixth.  Sutton finished the night 5-for-6 with two walks and three runs scored. 

Drew Toussaint reached base the hard way by getting hit by a pitch but came around to score on an RBI single by Wil Ortiz in the eighth.  Sutton, who had singled, scored the tying run on Stavisky's sac fly.

After being held scoreless for 13 innings, the Drillers were finally able to score a run in the top of the 15th on an attempted sac bunt that went over the pitcher's head for an RBI single.

The Travs answered right back in the bottom of the inning when Sutton, who had led off the inning with a single, scored on a throwing error by the Drillers' catcher.

Starters Brok Butcher and Alan Johnson both threw well but were unable to record a decision.  Butcher went six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits.  Johnson lasted seven innings and allowed only one run on six hits.

Reliever Bill Edwards pitched 4.1 innings of relief and limited the Drillers to one run on five hits.  He also struck out four.

3B Corey Smith finished 3-for-7 and turned in a fine defensive play, starting a 5-4-3 double play.

For Box Score, see:  Boxscore
 

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