TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Cards Clinch Division in Extras

Published on August 28, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI - Jermaine Curtis dropped a bases-loaded bloop single just out of reach of Roberto Lopez in right field sending the Springfield Cardinals to a division-clinching 4-3 victory over the Arkansas Travelers at Hammons Field. Paul McAnulty (9) and Roberto Lopez (15) each homered for the second night in a row, but Cardinals outfielder Mike O'Neill capped a huge series with four more base hits and the winning run. O'Neill finished the series 10-for-15 and helped the Cardinals to a three-game sweep to clinch the Texas League North Division title for the second half.

The Travs now head home for the last seven games of the season after a disappointing 2-5 road trip. At 32-31 they'll host the NW Arkansas Naturals for four games at Dickey-Stephens Park, then close out the season with three against Springfield.

the Travs managed just four base hits against Cards right hander Seth Maness over seven fast innings. Half of them were came from McAnulty, who went 5-for-8 over the past two games, including his third homer in four at-bats leading off the fourth inning. Maness retired the next eight batters before McAnulty singled in the sixth inning bringing up Lopez, who sent the next offering over the bullpen in left field for a game-tying home run. The home run also gave Lopez a career-high 15 dingers for the season.

Only two more hits were to be collected by the Travs in the ensuing five innings, as Maness gave way to relievers Eric Fornataro and Keith Butler (5-1) for two scoreless innings each.

Orangel Arenas and the Travs trailed early when Chris Swauger led off the second inning with a home run (13) to center field. Then with one out Adam Melker's hot smash got through shortstop Darwin Perez for an error. Audry Perez singled through the right side moving Melker to third base and O'Neill dropped a single into left field pushing the second run across. Arenas ended the inning getting Kolten Wong to bounce to second baseman Renny Osuna who started a double play.

After McAnulty's homer brought the Travs within a 2-1 score, the Cards caught a break in the bottom of the fourth when Travis Witherspoon briefly lost a drive by Xavier Scruggs that fell over his head for a leadoff double. Adam Melker laid down a bunt on the first base line that brought Arenas too close to Carlos Ramirez for a play to be made. Then Scruggs scored when Audry Perez bounced into a double play.

Arenas retired the last seven batters he faced and finished six innings allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out six.

Nick Maronde worked 0.2 innings of relief before Caleb Graham threw a dominating two innings with strikeouts from five of the six batters he faced. Buddy Boshers worked one scoreless inning, but needed Kevin Johnson's help getting out of the tenth.

O'Neill though reached on an infield single in the 11th on a chopper over the mound. third baseman Brian Hernandez had to charge across the infield and double clutched his throw. Wong followed with a single to right field moving the winning run to third base. Johnson loaded the bases with an intentional walk of Greg Garcia before Curtis dropped his game-winning hit just out of Lopez's reach in short right field.

Now the Travs battle the NW Arkansas Naturals for a four-game series beginning on Tuesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park starting at 7:10 p.m.

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Texas League Stories from August 28, 2012


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