Cards spring five homers In 11-1 win over Travs
Published on June 11, 2006 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Hammons Field, Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals (35-26) belted five solo home runs in an 11-1 pummeling of the Arkansas Travelers (21-41). Terry Evans (4), who hit 15 home runs at Class A Palm Beach, took over the Minor League home run lead (19) with two more long balls and drove in four. In two games against the Travs, Evans is 7-for-8 with four home runs and 11 RBI. Juan Richardson (12), Reid Gorecki (13) and Gabe Johnson (1) added the other home runs while the Travs scored their only run on a solo homer by Brandon Wood (14). Springfield RHP Chris Lambert (5-5) used the support well by throwing seven effective innings limiting the Travs to five hits and two walks while striking out seven. Arkansas starter RHP Rafael Rodriguez (2-5) served up three home runs and allowed nine runs (five earned) on eight hits and four strikeouts. Rodriguez was ejected when he hit a Springfield batter following Johnson's home run in the sixth inning. The loss is the Travs' fourth straight after a four-game winning streak.
Wood gave Arkansas a first-inning lead with a two-out line drive homer that scraped the top of the fence before bouncing over. Lambert settled in after and never faced a situation with two runners on base at the same time.
Rodriguez was strong over the first two innings allowing just one hit, Evans' game-tying homer in the second inning. Things began to fall apart in the third inning after Rodriguez retired the first batter. Jarrett Hoffpauir and Mike McCoy each singled to put two runners on base. Gorecki then hit a flare on the infield that 2B Eric Rodland dropped for an error that loaded the bases. Richardson then put Springfield on top for good with a line drive single to center that scored two runs for a 3-1 Cards' lead. The Travs had a chance to get out of the inning when Rico Washington bounced to 1B Greg Porter, who wheeled to second base attempting to start a double play. His throw was wide of the bag forcing Wood's foot off second base and when Wood tried to force Washington at first base neither Porter nor Rodriguez covered at first base and the throw was deflected by Porter's glove while Gorecki came around third to score ahead of a throw. Evans then sent a line-drive double into the right-field gap scoring two runs for a 6-1 Cards lead.
Lambert allowed a leadoff double to Matt Brown in the fourth inning, but went on two record eight consecutive outs.
Gorecki led off the fifth inning with a high fly to left field that barely got over Aaron Peel's glove on a leaping attempt at the fence.
Rodriguez got two quick outs in the sixth, but Johnson powered his first home run of the year over the left-center field wall for a 8-1 Cards lead. Rodriguez' next pitch hit Hoffpauir's left hip and the pitcher was immediately ejected. RHP Rich Thompson relieved and McCoy greeted him with a line drive off the left-field wall to score Hoffpauir for a 9-1 lead.
The Cards' capped the scoring with solo homers by Richardson and Evans in the seventh.
Time of game was 2:46 and the paid attendance was 6,631.
To view the boxscore, please click here.
The third game of this five-game series is set for Monday night. The Travs send RHP Chris Hunter (1-5, 7.80 ERA) to the mound against Springfield RHP Stu Pomeranz (6-2, 4.04 ERA). First pitch at Hammons Field will be thrown at 7:10 p.m.
Texas League Stories from June 11, 2006
- "The Rocket" dazzles in Hooks' 5-1 win - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards spring five homers In 11-1 win over Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Redbirds swat five homers in 11-1 win - Springfield Cardinals
- Wichita rallies past Tulsa - Tulsa Drillers
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