Cards Outduel Travs to Salvage Split
Published on May 20, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock, AR-Monday night at Dickey-Stephens Park the Springfield Cardinals forced a series split with Arkansas by topping the first-place Travelers, 2-1. Xavier Scruggs' two-run single with two outs in the first inning proved to be all the offense the Cards would need. Arkansas ends the home stand 6-2 and begins a series in San Antonio on Wednesday.
Brandon Hynick took the losing decision for the Travelers despite striking out a season high seven batters over six innings. Hynick's only rough patch of the night was the opening inning. Hynick allowed a one out single to James Ramsey before Chris Swauger walked with two outs. Scruggs stepped up and singled to the right-center gap, and on the play Ramsey and Swauger came home on the play. The hit gave Scruggs his eighth and ninth runs batted in of the series.
Hynick was brilliant after the two runs in the first. The righty allowed only three hits over his final five innings of work, and retired eight straight at one point from the third to sixth inning.
Arkansas had chances early against Richard Castillo and forced the Springfield starter to throw 35 pitches in the second. In the process the Travs loaded the bases, but Castillo forced Anthony Bemboom to strike out to end the inning.
The Travs stranded six base runners through the first four innings and didn't get onto the scoreboard until Kaleb Cowart blasted his third homer of the season on a solo shot to right.
Castillo left the game after 5 2/3 innings on the mound and turned the game over to Kevin Siegrist. Siegrist retired five of the six Travs he faced and left, before Deryk Hooker entered to record the final two outs in the eighth.
Kevin Butler, who took the loss in the series opener on Friday, entered and earned the save (7) for Castillo when the righty induced a game-ending pop up to first by Cowart with the tying run at second.
Arkansas relievers Caleb Graham and Mike Piazza combined to pitch the final three innings of the game while allowing only one hit.
Travis Witherspoon enjoyed his first three-hit game for the season in the losing effort.
Arkansas returns to action on Wednesday at 7:05 after having the day off on Tuesday when they begin a series against the San Antonio Missions. Coverage of the game begins with the Travs Dugout Show at 6:40 on Sports Animal 920.
Texas League Stories from May 20, 2013
- Cards Outduel Travs to Salvage Split - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Wrap up Road Trip with 2-1 Win in Arkansas - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Power Past Naturals 8-5 - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Claim Series with Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Rough Riders Defeat Missions 4-3 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Corpus Christi Hooks Upcoming Events - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hounds Commit Six Errors in Loss - Midland RockHounds
- Kalian Sams named Texas League Player of the Week for May 13-19 - San Antonio Missions
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