Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals defeated the Arkansas Travelers 2-1 in walk-off fashion, taking the first game of the series and lowering their magic number down to three.

Neither team was able to get on the board until Brian Hernandez's RBI groundout in the top of the sixth put Arkansas on top 1-0. Siegrist hit Roberto Lopez and walked Casey Haerther on four straight balls to begin the sixth. Renny Osuna's sacrifice bunt moved the runners over for Hernandez's grounder.

The Cards wouldn't crack the scoreboard until the eighth inning, when a wild pitch from Travs closer Kevin Johnson allowed Jamie Romak to score and tie the game. Reliever Ryan Chaffee walked Romak and allowed him to move to second on a wild pitch. An Adam Melker base hit would bring Romak to third, before Kevin Johnson would come in and blow the save with the wild pitch.

The Cards would put runners at first and second in the bottom of the ninth when Mike O'Neill and Kolten Wong hit back-to-back singles. Greg Garcia would hit what seemed to be a double-play ball, but Kolten Wong's hard slide into second baseman Renny Osuna forced a throwing error, allowing O'Neill to score and win the game.

Springfield starter Kevin Siegrist pitched four innings, giving up one run on four hits, and striking out five. Reliever Kevin Thomas would follow him, pitching two perfect innings with three strikeouts. Eric Fornataro (3-3) would come in and pitch a perfect ninth, earning the win for the Cards.

Arkansas pitcher Matt Oye would throw four innings of five-hit ball, while walking two and striking out three. Left handed pitcher AJ Schugel started the game and only pitched a perfect first. He struck out two Cardinal batters and was relieved by Oye.

Buddy Boshers threw two innings, giving up one hit and striking out four. He struck out the side in order in the sixth inning, and was able to get himself out of trouble in the seventh, after a base hit and throwing error allowed the first two runners to reach base.

Kevin Johnson (1-3) would earn the loss, giving up one run on two hits while striking out two. Ryan Chaffee would be charged with the first run.

The Cardinals will continue their series with the Travelers tomorrow afternoon at 2:08pm. Carlos Martinez will start for Springfield against Eddie McKiernan of the Travs.

Sysco will be giving away 4,000 team baseball card sets and every Sunday is a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday where all kids receive an ice cream treat on the Prime Patio prior to the game. Kids also can run the bases after the game. Great tickets are still available, so visit the Hammons Field Ticket Office, go online at springfieldcardinals.com or call (417) 863-2143.

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