Cards Clinch Share Of North Division
Published on June 23, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI - The Springfield Cardinals took advantage of six walks and two wild pitches to earn a share of the Texas League north division first half title with a 5-2 defeat of the Arkansas Travelers on the final game of the half Tuesday night. The Cardinals managed only one RBI base hit and were out hit 10-7 by the Travs, but bouts of wildness by Arkansas pitchers led to two bases-loaded walks and a run scoring wild pitch. Another Springfield run scored on a throwing error. Hainley Statia finished 3-for-4 as one of four Travs to record a multi-hit game, but only Statia and Brendan Florence managed to knock in a run.
With Tulsa's 13-1 win at Northwest Arkansas during Tuesday afternoon, the Cards and Drillers are tied at 38-32 atop the north division at the end of the first half. The new tie-breaker system instituted during the off season will present a winner-takes-all game for the first half when the teams meet Friday night at Drillers Stadium.
Left handed pitcher Barret Browning (L, 0-6) was saddled with the loss in his fourth career start. He was charged with five runs (four earned) on six base hits, four walks and two wild pitches to go along with four strikeouts.
Springfield all-star right hander Lance Lynn (W, 6-2) scattered eight hits in his 5.2 innings but allowed just two runs with no walks and four strikeouts to pick up his second win over the Travelers.
Arkansas third baseman Wil Ortiz had one of the two extra-base hits on the night, a two-out double in the second inning. Florence followed with an RBI single to center field putting the Travs up 1-0.
Browning retired seven of the first eight Cardinals hitters but hit Antone Dejesus with one out in the third inning. Pete Kozma followed with a single to center before Tyler Henley flied to left for the second out. Springfield's all-star second baseman Daniel Descalso delivered a game-tying single to right field knocking in Dejesus. Kozma scored the go-ahead run when Ortiz's bounced a throw on a grounder by Steven Hill giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
Springfield centerfielder Jim Rapoport beat a grounder to short in the fourth inning for a one-out single then stole second base. He scored from second when a wild pitch skipped off the plate between catcher Flint Wipke's legs and bounced to the home on-deck circle for a 3-1 Cards lead.
The Travs cut the deficit to one run as Florence singled to begin the fifth, advanced to third base on Wipke's hit-and-run single then scored on a two-out single by Statia.
Browning came in to the sixth inning and allowed the bases to load up on two walks and a single by Dejesus. He bounced back to strike out Tyler Henley and induced Descalso into a fly out to shallow left. Right hander Bryan Rembisz was summoned from the bullpen and he issued a bases-loaded walk on four pitches to Hill bringing in Nick Derba. Then Rembisz missed on a close 3-2 pitch to Mark Hamilton forcing in another run for a 5-2 Cards edge.
The Travs couldn't muster much against the Cards' bullpen as righty Eduardo Sanchez struck out three in 1.2 perfect innings. Tyler Norrick struck out the side in the eighth, and closer Francisco Samuel pitched the ninth for the save (18).
Time of game was 2:55 and the paid attendance numbered 4,623.
The second half of the season begins Wednesday night and the Travs and Cardinals will square off at Hammons Field. Arkansas plans on right hander Tim Kiely (1-0, 3.38 ERA) taking the mound while Springfield sends right hander Brian Broderick (0-2, 6.00) to pitch. The game will begin at approximately 7:10 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 23, 2009
- Cards Clinch Share Of North Division - Arkansas Travelers
- Tuesday Win Sets up Friday Showdown - Springfield Cardinals
- Missions Top Hooks, Win Half - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers, Cards To Play In Tulsa Friday For Title - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Win, Await Title Fate - Tulsa Drillers
- Adults to eat free at next Monday's Daygame! - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Reliever Holland added as All-Star - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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