Travelers Take Series Opener on Thursday
June 19, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers claimed the series opener with a 9-1 win against the Springfield Cardinals before 4,239 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Thursday night. The Cardinals have won eight of their last 11 games.
The Travs (1-2, 35-38) got the bats going in the bottom of the first against All-Star LHP Kyle Hald (L, 6-2). After a leadoff single from LF Maikol Gonzalez, 3B Kaleb Cowart knocked a two-run home run over the left field fence, swinging the Travelers into the 2-0 advantage.
After a solo home run by DH Jimmy Swift in the second, Arkansas struck with another long-ball in the third. With two on and two down, C Jett Bandy pulled a three-run shot inside the left field foul pole, increasing the advantage to 6-0.
The Cardinals (2-1, 36-37) battled their way onto the board against All-Star LHP Michael Roth (W, 6-4) in the top of the fifth. After a DH Curt Smith walk, RF David Popkins and 2B Luis Mateo both ripped singles to load the bases with no outs. 3B Matt Williams chopped an RBI fielder's choice to short, enabling Smith to race home for the Cardinals first run. However, Roth worked out of the rest of the inning unscathed with a pickoff and a strikeout, escaping further trouble with a 6-1 Travelers lead.
Arkansas then stretched the advantage with two runs in the sixth. With two on and two down, RHP Logan Billbrough gave way to RHP Chris Thomas, the Liberty, MO native making his Double-A debut. All-Star 2B Alex Yarbrough and All-Star 1B Brian Hernandez, though, struck with consecutive RBI singles to increase the advantage to 8-1.
A final RBI base hit from Hernandez in the bottom of the eighth capped the scoring, accounting for the 9-1 final score in the Travelers win.
Texas League Stories from June 19, 2014
- Travelers Take Series Opener on Thursday - Springfield Cardinals
- Three Homers Lead Travs to Victory - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Win Fourth Straight - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Come up Short in Series-Opening Loss to RockHounds - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Drop Opener in Northwest Arkansas - Tulsa Drillers
- San Antonio Missions Game Notes: June 19 vs. Midland (7:05 PM CST) - San Antonio Missions
- Green Country Chevy Dealers to Host Free Youth Clinic at ONEOK - Tulsa Drillers
- Series Preview: Tulsa Returns for Four with Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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