Springfield opens final series with 3-2 win
August 31, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Ray Winder Field, Little Rock, AR - DH Juan Richardson led a 12-hit attack with a 3-for-5 effort as the Springfield Cardinals (26-41, 65-70) won their third straight game with a 5-3 victory over the Arkansas Travelers (25-40, 49-86). Richardson scored a run and also knocked one in to helpt the Cards to a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. After the Travs got within a 4-3 score in the sixth, three Springfield relievers combined to retire the last 12 Travs batters with seven strikeouts. In the second start of his career LHP Kevin Ool (3-3) went five innings and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Arkansas RHP Jose Arredondo (2-3) was the losing pitcher allowing four runs (three earned) on ten hits and a walk with four strikeouts in six innings. LHP Troy Cate dealt two perfect innings out of the Springfield bullpen with five strikeouts, while RHP Mark Worrell earned the save (27) with a two-strikeout ninth inning. 3B Matt Brown led the Travs with a 2-for-4 night.
For the third time in four games, the Travs allowed a run in the first inning. Springfield CF Shaun Boyd began the game with a single to left and SS Mike McCoy bunted him to second base. RF Nick Stavinoha followed with a line drive single to right field bringing Boyd home for a 1-0 Cards lead.
Leading off the top of the third inning, McCoy hit a grounder behind second base that SS Sean Rodriguez fielded and threw into the first-base stands for a single and an error that moved McCoy to second base. A one-out single by Richardson scored McCoy, while Richardson took second base on the throw home. When LF Cody Haerther doubled into left-center, Richardson scored for a 3-0 Springfield lead.
After Arredondo recorded two outs in the fourth inning, Boyd pulled a double off the left field wall. McCoy followed with a slow grounder to deep short that Rodriguez again threw wild to first base for a single and an error that scored Boyd for a 4-0 Springfield lead.
Ool had retired nine of the first ten batters he faced when he walked Rodriguez. Ool fell behind Terry Evans 3-0, but brought the count full and got Evans to bounce to third base with Rodriguez forced at second base. Brown followed with an infield single to short and DH Bobby Wilson did the same to load the bases. RF Darren Blakely hit a solid sacrifice fly to deep left to bring Brown home, but Ool struck out Devin Day leaving two runners on base.
Ool came back for the sixth inning, but left without recording an out after a walk to Rodriguez and a single by Evans. RHP Dennis Dove relieved and struggled with command throwing two consecutive wild pitches to score Rodriguez while Evans moved to third base. Brown's groundout to shortstop scored Evans to get the Travs within 4-3.
RHP Bill Edwards relieved Arredondo for the seventh inning and issued a leadoff walk to McCoy. With one out, a hit-and-run single to left by Richardson sent McCoy to third base and he scored when Haerther reached on a fielder's choice for a 5-3 Springfield lead.
Time of game was 2:57 and the paid attendance was 3,124.
With three games remaining in the season, Ray Winder Field hosts its last night baseball game Friday night against Springfield. The Travs plan on RHP Rafael Rodriguez (5-10, 6.73 ERA) pitching against Springfield LHP Eric Haberer (3-3, 5.37 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. and the gates open at 6:10 p.m.
Texas League Stories from August 31, 2006
- Just three games left in 2006 season, Cards win 5-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Springfield opens final series with 3-2 win - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks' struggles continue in San Antonio - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Wichita stops Tulsa again - Wichita Wranglers
- Racing legend Labonte comes home to Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Thunder playoff schedule released - TL1
- Pals Pitches Cards to 3-2 Win - Springfield Cardinals
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