Travelers Hang on for 6-4 Win in Series Opener
Published on May 20, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers topped the Springfield Cardinals, 6-4, in a back-and-forth battle before 6,380 fans to open the series at Dickey-Stephens Park on Friday night. The Cardinals hold 1st place in the North Division First Half Standings by 2.5 games over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
The Cardinals (22-19) dealt the first blow with a pair of runs against RHP Victor Alcantara in the top of the third inning. DH Chris Jacobs and CF C.J. McElroy, Jr. sparked the charge with a pair of singles to open the stanza. Both runners advanced ninety feet when 2B Breyvic Valera laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. 3B Bruce Caldwell then came through with a two-run single, bringing in Jacobs and McElroy, Jr. and swinging Springfield into the 2-0 lead with his team-leading 24th and 25th RBIs of the year.
Cardinals RHP Corey Baker kept the lead intact through his first four scoreless innings, but the Travelers (17-24) broke through in the bottom of the fifth. CF Bo Way led off with a free pass, followed by a single from SS Anthony Phillips. After failing to lay down the sacrifice bunt, 2B Alex Yarbrough connected for a three-run home run to right field, propelling the Travs ahead, 3-2.
Facing Springfield RHP Pedro Echemendia in the bottom of the sixth, Arkansas added one insurance run. Echemendia retired the frame's first two batters in order, but a double from Way extended the inning. Phillips then drove an RBI double to left field, bringing in Way for the 4-2 advantage.
The Cardinals, though, refused to let Arkansas pull too far ahead, tying the game in the top of the seventh. Alcantara posted the first two outs to start the frame, but C Carson Kelly ripped a two-out single to keep the inning alive. LF Nick Thompson followed suit with a two-out base hit of his own, putting two men on and leading to RHP Austin Wood (W, 1-1) taking over on the mound. Jacobs promptly welcomed Wood to the game with a two-run double ripped to deep center field, scoring both Kelly and Thompson to tie the game, 4-4.
The Travelers, however, got the two runs right back against RHP John Brebbia (L, 1-1) in the bottom of the seventh. RF Cal Towey led off with a walk, before darting to third on a single from DH Chad Hinshaw. 1B Eric Aguilera then skied a go-ahead RBI sacrifice fly to left field, bringing in Towey and enabling Hinshaw to tag and take second base. C Jose Briceno brought in Hinshaw for the inning's second tally, floating an RBI single to shallow right field for the 6-4 Arkansas advantage.
The Cardinals threatened with two runners in the eighth and one in the ninth, but the Travelers received scoreless relief from RHP Alan Busenitz and RHP D.J. Johnson (S, 4) to hang on for the 6-4 win.
Texas League Stories from May 20, 2016
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- Drillers Take Homestand Finale at Hammons Field - Springfield Cardinals
- Travelers Claim Series Finale over Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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