Rizzo's Two Homers Not Enough As Travs Drop Opener To Naturals

Springdale, AR—Joe Rizzo hit two home runs for the second time in less than a week but it was not enough as the Arkansas Travelers fell 7-5 to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in the opener of a six game series. Rizzo opened the scoring with a blast in the first and later added a two-run shot. In between, Northwest Arkansas scored seven times off Travs starter Stephen Kolek in the third through fifth innings. Kolek did not make it through five innings for only the second time this season and first in his last 11 starts.

Moments That Mattered

* Jake Means lined a two-run homer off Kolek in the third to put the Naturals on top. Then an inning later he drove in a pair more on a double.

* Arkansas put the tying runs on base with two out in the eighth but a fly out ended the comeback threat.

Notable Travs Performances

* 3B Joe Rizzo: 2-4, 2 runs, 2 HR, 3 RBI

* RF Zach DeLoach: 2-4, run, HR, RBI

News and Notes

* Rizzo also hit two homers in a game last Thursday in the second game of a doubleheader. It was the third time he has posted a two homer game in his career.

* RHP Scott Boches made his season debut after being activated off the injured list. He worked a perfect sixth inning.

* In addition to Boches being activated, INF Riley Unroe was reinstated from the Development List. In corresponding moves, LHP Peyton Alford was transferred to Everett and INF Jose Caballero was placed on the Injured List.

Up Next

The Travs look to bounce back on Wednesday night with right-hander Levi Stoudt (4-4, 4.69) on the mound against lefty Dante Biasi (4-0, 4.50). First pitch is set for 7:05 and the game will be broadcast on 93.3 The Fish, the First Pitch App and milb.tv.