Travs Early Lead Not Enough in 7-5 Loss
Published on July 26, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Springfield, Missouri - Early offense wasn't enough for the Arkansas Travelers on Tuesday night as a 5-1 lead turned into a 7-5 loss to the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field. Chris Swauger drove in two runs with a double and a triple, while Matt Adams (24) hit a two-run homer for Springfield. The Travs had five runs and seven base hits over three innings, but managed just four base hits without a run in the last six frames. Luis Jimenez led all batters with four base hits including his league-leading 31st double and a run batted in while Matt Cusick drove in four runs on two base hits.
The Travs fall to 15-16 in the second half (51-47 overall) and are 2-3 on their road trip. The Cardinals win for just the third time in ten games to improve to 12-19 in the second half (44-57 overall).
The first three batters of the game reached base against Cards right hander Joe Kelly, who was making his fourth start at Double-A. Rian Kiniry singled and moved up on a wild pitch before Kelly walked Darwin Perez. Jimenez gave the Travs the lead with a bloop single to left that knocked in Kiniry. A groundout by Chris Pettit moved the runners up and Cusick delivered a two-run single for a 3-0 lead.
Orangel Arenas got the start for the Travs and he had two outs with the bases empty when he walked Charlie Cutler in the second inning. Swauger brought Cutler to the plate with a line drive double to right-center.
The Travs gave Cusick a bases-loaded chance against Kelly in the third inning with a single by Jimenez, a hit batsman and a single by Roberto Lopez. Cusick drove in two runs with a single to right field for a 5-1 lead. Kelly got out of the inning when he struck out Angel Castillo and Lopez was thrown out trying to steal third base.
Travs base runners made four outs on the bases and had four double plays turned on them.
Adams pulled the Cards within 5-3 when he turned on a fastball from Arenas in the third inning for a two-run homer. He gave the lead up in the fourth inning as Cutler hit a leadoff double then scored on a stand-up triple from Swauger and he scored the tying run when Audry Perez grounded out.
Arenas left the game with only four innings pitched allowing five runs on eight base hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
Kelly got out of the fifth inning thanks to a tremendous set of relay throws by Cutler and shortstop Ryan Jackson. Leading off the inning, Perez walked and Jimenez lined his third hit to the left field corner. Cutler retrieved the ball at the wall and found Jackson in short left field as Perez rounded third base. The throw to the plate allowed Perez to slide right into the out. Kelly then struck out Pettit before getting Lopez on a grounder to end his five innings.
Kelly (2-1) also earned the win although he was charged with five runs on eight hits and four walks in five innings.
Loek Van Mil (3-3) replaced Arenas and was quickly touched for his first run in over a month. Alex Castellanos doubled past third leading off the fifth inning and scored when Zack Cox pushed a single to left field giving Springfield their first lead at 6-5.
Van Mil finished the inning and fired a perfect sixth, but walked Jackson beginning the seventh. Adams moved Jackson to third with a single then Castellanos lined an RBI single to center giving the Cards a 7-5 lead.
The Cards bullpen held the Travs to three base hits over four shutout innings. Nick Greenwood worked 1.2 innings before Jorge Rondon left two batters in the seventh and fired a scoreless eighth. David Kopp (2) slammed the door shut in the ninth inning to preserve the game.
Time of game was 2:47 and the paid attendance was 4,048.
The Travs and Cards are back at it again on Wednesday night at Hammons Field. For the Travelers Eddie McKiernan (4-9, 5.70) gets the ball while Springfield sends left hander John Gast (1-1, 5.10). First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m.
Texas League Stories from July 26, 2011
- Travs Early Lead Not Enough in 7-5 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- Four-Run Eighth Secures Win for 'Riders - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cardinals Beat Travelers 7-5 - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Pounded in Road Trip Opener - Tulsa Drillers
- Dwyer, Naturals Manhandle Drillers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, July 26 - San Antonio at Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals Back at Hammons Field Tonight - Springfield Cardinals
- Series Preview: Naturals Get Re-Acquainted with Drillers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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