Travs Hang on in Wild Opener, 6-4
July 14, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers hung on in a battle of a series opener against the Springfield Cardinals, claiming the 6-4 win before 8,082 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Sunday evening.
The Travelers (11-12, 45-48) opened an early advantage with three runs (only one earned) against RHP Mike Mayers (L, 1-3) in the bottom of the first. With two on and one away, 1B Brian Hernandez placed an RBI base hit through the middle to open an early advantage. One out later with two on, Mayers induced a fly ball to deep left-center that CF Rafael Ortega ran down but couldn't quite keep in his glove, resulting in a two-run error to stretch it to 3-0.
After the Travs added another unearned run on a miscue in the second, the Cardinals (9-14, 43-50) got on the board in the top of the third against RHP Orangel Arenas. LF Mike O'Neill led off with a single, before racing to second on a base hit by C Cody Stanley. After a strikeout, 1B Jonathan Rodriguez worked a walk to load the bases. Ortega then skied an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, plating O'Neill to cut it to a 4-1 deficit.
Springfield continued to swing closer with two more tallies in the top of the fourth. RF Starlin Rodriguez sparked the offense with a single to start the frame. 3B Matt Williams then laid down a bunt single that led to a throwing error on Arenas, enabling Rodriguez to get all the way to third on the play. SS Alex Mejia brought in Rodriguez with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, marking Mejia's second straight game with an RBI. After Williams swiped his eighth base on the season to get to second, O'Neill brought him in with an RBI ground-rule double to left field, bringing the Cardinals within just one run of tying it, 4-3.
However, the Travelers dealt the next blow with two crucial insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one down, 1B Brian Hernandez singled himself on before a double from LF Mike Bianucci, putting runners at second and third. RHP Ronnie Shaban battled back with a groundout for the second out of the inning, before giving way to LHP Iden Nazario. DH Drew Heid, though, won the battle against Nazario with a two-run single to center field, bringing in both runners to stretch the Travelers lead to 6-3.
Springfield refused to go down without a fight, chipping away in the top of the sixth. O'Neill got the offense going again with a one-out walk, his third time on base in the game. Stanley, the Texas League leader with a .307 average, ripped his second single to right field that led to a throwing error on RF Adam Melker, the former Springfield Cardinal. The single and error combined to score O'Neill all the way from first base, as the Cards once again reduced the Travs lead to just 6-4.
Nazario combined with RHP Chris Thomas to retire 10 straight outs, keeping the Cardinals close the rest of the way. However, Arkansas RHP Danny Reynolds countered with a scoreless seventh and eighth, before RHP RJ Alvarez (S, 1) took over for the ninth.
Down to their final two outs, the Cardinals received consecutive singles from 2B Breyvic Valera, who had three hits, and RF Starlin Rodriguez to get the tying runs aboard. However, Alvarez induced a game-ending double play and the Travelers escaped with the 6-4 win. RHP Kevin Johnson (W, 2-3) tossed 1.2 relief innings for Arkansas to log the win.
Texas League Stories from July 14, 2014
- Drillers Survive Sloppy Game in Springdale - Tulsa Drillers
- Monday's Game in Arkansas Postponed - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs and Cards Rained out Monday - Arkansas Travelers
- San Antonio Missions Game Notes: July 14 vs. Frisco (7:05 PM CST) - San Antonio Missions
- Jason Adam Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Frisco RoughRiders Game Notes - Frisco RoughRiders
- Marte Grabs Player of the Week Honors - Midland RockHounds
- Corpus Christi Breaks Hounds Win Streak - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Hammer Midland - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Lead Wire-To-Wire for Third Straight Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Travs Hang on in Wild Opener, 6-4 - Springfield Cardinals
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