Springfield Rallies For 7-5 Win Over Travs
May 19, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Hammons Field, Springfield, MO â A five-run fifth inning was enough to push the Springfield Cardinals (18-22) to their first victory over the Arkansas Travelers (21-19), 7-5. With the Travs leading 4-1 in the fifth inning, ten Springfield batters came to the plate with 3B Travis Hanson tying the game with a two-run single. Sacrifice flies by Robinson Cancel and Papo Bolivar capped the inning. The Travs took a 4-0 lead in the second inning on a three-run homer by Mike Napoli (4) and a solo home run by Mike Eylward (3), but LHP Tim Bittner (1-3) couldn't hold the lead and was gone by the end of the fifth. In suffering his third straight loss, Bittner allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and five walks in four innings. Springfield LHP Randy Leek (3-2) earned the victory by allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits, a walk and two strikeouts in six innings. The Travs left eight runners in scoring position and went 2-15 with a runner in scoring position.
Travs LF David Gates singled to start the second inning followed by a double from Tommy Murphy. Napoli then smacked a three-run homer to right field followed by Eylward's blast to dead center for a 4-0 lead.
Hanson led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run to right field to bring the Cards within 4-1.
Leek set down 12 of 14 hitters going into the bottom of the fifth inning. Springfield CF Reid Gorecki led off the fifth with a single followed by a hard double play grounder to shortstop. SS Erick Aybar charged the ball and attempted to scoop it, but the ball ricocheted off his glove for an error. A single by 1B Andy Schutzenhofer loaded the bases for Tyler Minges who walked on four pitches. Bittner was replaced by RHP Kasey Olenberger and Hanson greeted him with a two-run single to right field tying the game at 4-4. Cancel then lofted a fly ball to right field with Minges barely beating the throw to the plate for the go-ahead run. Hanson advanced to second base, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bolivar for a 6-4 lead.
The Travs left six runners in scoring position in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. They managed a run scoring single by Alberto Callaspo in the seventh.
Cancel put Springfield back ahead by two runs, 7-5, with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the seventh.
With RHP Josh Kinney pitching in the ninth, Callaspo and Aybar drew walks before the first out of the inning. David Gates then flied out to deep center and Aybar was thrown out trying to advance to second base. Kinney struck out Murphy to end the game earning his tenth save.
Time of game was 3:01 and the paid attendance 6,097.
The third game of the series is set for Friday night at Hammons. The Travs have LHP Daniel Davidson (4-1, 4.25 ERA) and Springfield sends RHP Jeremy Cook (2-1, 3.24 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
Please call (501) 664-1555 or visit www.travs.com for game information.
Texas League Stories from May 19, 2005
- Wranglers snap Drillers' streak - Tulsa Drillers
- Springfield Rallies For 7-5 Win Over Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards Rally for 7-5 Win - Springfield Cardinals
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