Cardinals win 4th straight, 6-3 over Arkansas

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals scored three runs in the first and never looked back, cruising to the 6-3 win against the Arkansas Travelers before 5,564 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday evening. The Cards have now won their past four games.

The Cardinals (12-11, 45-46) cracked the scoreless tie right away, striking for three runs in the bottom of the first inning against RHP Michael Cisco (L, 2-3). LF Mike O'Neill led off with a base hit, before a walk from CF James Ramsey put two men on. 3B Ruben Gotay loaded the bases with a single to shallow right, and then one out later, C Cody Stanley ripped a two-run single inside the first base line, plating O'Neill and Ramsey. An RBI fielder's choice by SS Luis Mateo brought in Gotay, capping the first inning rally for the 3-0 lead.

Springfield stretched the lead with two more runs against LHP Nick Maronde in the bottom of the sixth inning. Gotay started the frame with a double, before racing to third base on an errant pick-off throw by Maronde. Two outs later, Mateo ripped an RBI single through the left side, plating Gotay from third base. DH Jake Lemmerman singled Mateo to second, before RF Adam Melker brought him home with an RBI base hit to center field, making it 5-0.

After LHP Jonathan Cornelius (W, 2-3) dominated the Travs (14-9, 47-45) bats through his first six scoreless innings, scattering only four hits, Arkansas got on the board in the top of the seventh. C Jett Bandy worked a walk to start the frame, before Cornelius struck out 3B Kaleb Cowart. CF Travis Witherspoon then drove a two-run homer over the left field wall, chipping the Travelers deficit to 5-2.

The Cardinals answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth, increasing the advantage back to four runs. Stanley led off with a single, moving quickly to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Mateo. After a walk to Lemmerman and a wild pitch put runners at second and third, Melker lined another RBI single to center field to bring in Stanley for the 6-2 lead.

RHP Heath Wyatt retired the first two in the top of the ninth, but Witherspoon struck again with another solo homer to decrease the difference to three runs. After a base hit by 1B Robbie Widlansky, RHP Deryk Hooker (S, 6) took over on the mound and struck out PH Rolando Gomez to close the 6-3 win for the Cardinals.

Click here for the complete box score from Sunday's game.

Don't miss St. Louis RHP Chris Carpenter make a rehab start in Springfield this Monday!

The former Cy Young Award Winner, two-time World Champion and three-time All-Star, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, will make a rehab start for the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field this Monday! First Pitch is 7:09pm, gates open at 6:09pm.

In nine years and 198 career starts as a Cardinal, Carpenter has gone 95-44, winning 15 or more games for the Cards in five of the six seasons in which he's made at least 20 starts. He ranks 3rd in Cardinals history with 1,085 strikeouts, only 10 behind Dizzy Dean. His .683 winning percentage as a Cardinal not only ranks 2nd all-time for St. Louis pitchers with at least 100 starts, but it is also the best in all of Major League Baseball over the past nine seasons.

He has been an All-Star three times throughout his career (2005, 2006 and 2010), and in 2005 became the first Cardinal since Rick Wise in 1973 to be named the starting pitcher for an All-Star Game.

Click here to get your tickets to see Chris Carpenter at Hammons Field this Monday!

After RHP Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals battle the Travelers on Monday, Springfield hosts Arkansas again on Tuesday with a 7:09pm First Pitch. Tuesday's game will feature the St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Championship Replica Ring Giveaway (2,500). It's also a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day, featuring delicious hot dogs for just a buck. Gates open at 6:09pm.

The Cardinals and Travelers then wrap up the series with some Wednesday night baseball at Hammons Field. First Pitch on Wednesday is 7:09pm with gates opening at 6:09pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Cake Pop Company Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here for the Cardinals full 2013 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

Escape to Cardinals Baseball!