NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Arkansas Travelers

Cards hold off Travs 2-1 to split series

August 31, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS - The Springfield Cardinals kept the Arkansas Travelers from inching closer to first place in the North Division with a 2-1 victory on Monday night. The Travs managed just five base hits and left eight runners on base in losing for just the second time in six games. Cards right hander Scott Gorgen (W, 4-4) gave up the one run over six innings to earn his first win in four starts. Tim Kiely (L, 4-3) took the hard-luck loss allowing just two runs over 6.2 innings.

The Travs and Cardinals hold identical second half records of 29-34 and are five games behind Northwest Arkansas for the North Division lead with seven games remaining. The Naturals took an 8-4 loss at the hands of the Tulsa Drillers on Monday. A combined total of three Travs losses and wins by the Naturals knocks Arkansas from contention in the standings.

Kiely came out of the gate quickly and retired the first ten Springfield hitters. He set down 13 of 14 batters before Cards catcher Tony Cruz launched a solo home run (10) in the fifth inning with one out. Kiely then walked Aaron Luna before getting Colt Sedbrook to bounce to Hainley Statia at shortstop. Luna was forced out at second base, but Sedbrook beat Ryan Mount's relay throw to keep the inning alive. Sedbrook then broke for second base while Pete Kozma was batting and stole the bag successfully as Hank Conger's throw bounced into centerfield giving the runner third base. With Kozma still batting, a wild pitch by Kiely scored Sedbrook giving the Redbirds a 2-0 lead.

Gorgen allowed just one base hit, a double by Conger, over the first five innings while striking out five. Only four Travs batters reached base until the sixth inning when Coby Smith hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a fly out by Statia. Nate Sutton knocked Smith in with a high chop to second base that he beat for an RBI single. Gorgen then walked Mark Trumbo to push the tying run to second base, but Conger was induced into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Springfield had right hander Marco Gonzalez pitch the seventh and eighth. The Travs only had three batters reach base against Gonzalez, but all made it on board with two outs and each was stranded. Conger was the final batter of the eighth inning leaving two runners on base when Jim Rapoport caught his drive to the centerfield warning track.

Casey Mulligan (Sv, 1) was summoned for the ninth inning and allowed Ryan Mount's leadoff single. Wil Ortiz sacrificed to move the tying run to second base, but Mulligan bore down following with strikeouts on Jay Caligiuri and Ivan Contreras to end the game.

Time of game was 2:36 and the paid attendance numbered 3,659.

The Travs host the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Tuesday night to begin the last four-game series at Dickey-Stephens Park for the 2009 season. They'll have Marco Albano (4-6, 4.01) pitching against Northwest Arkansas's Matt Kniginyzky (5-9, 5.39). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. Mainstream ad.gif

Check out the Arkansas Travelers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Texas League message board...

Texas League Stories from August 31, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Arkansas Travelers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central