Yadier Molina, Greg Garcia and Cards top Travs, 4-3, before 7,344 fans

Springfield, MO - Before a sellout crowd of 7,344 fans at Hammons Field on Wednesday night, St. Louis Cardinals C Yadier Molina and 2B Greg Garcia helped pace the Springfield Cardinals to the 4-3 win against the Arkansas Travelers.

Molina caught the first six innings, while finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI double and a single. Garcia went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and one run as the leadoff man. Both Molina and Garcia are expected to start for Springfield again on Thursday night with a 7:10pm First Pitch against Arkansas.

With Molina catching, RHP Mike Mayers (W, 6-5) got off to a great start on the mound with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out in a 10-pitch top of the first. Arkansas LHP Kramer Sneed (L, 8-11) countered with a scoreless first frame of his own, despite singles by DH Breyvic Valera and Molina.

After both hurlers kept it scoreless through the second, the Travelers (38-27, 72-63) cracked the scoreless tie in the top of the third. With one away, LF Maikol Gonzalez picked up the first hit for Arkansas with a single. Mayers induced a groundout from former Springfield Cardinals RF Adam Melker, but it moved Gonzalez to second with two away. 2B Alex Yarbrough then placed an RBI single to shallow left-center field, swinging the Travs ahead, 1-0.

Mayers kept it at just a one-run deficit with a scoreless top of the fourth, before the Cardinals (30-34, 64-70) raced in front in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back base hits by CF Charlie Tilson and 3B Patrick Wisdom started the stanza, before Sneed answered with back-to-back strikeouts. However, Valera came through with an 11-pitch plate appearance that ended when he tattooed a two-run double off the left-center field wall, bringing both runners in to catapult the Cards in front. Molina then rocketed an RBI double into the right field corner, scoring Valera for the 3-1 advantage.

The Cardinals added to the lead with one run in the bottom of the sixth against RHP Kurt Spomer. 2B Greg Garcia started the stanza with his second double of the night. After a fly out from Valera moved Garcia to third, C Cody Stanley entered as a pinch hitter for Molina. The Travs promptly walked Stanley intentionally, before unintentionally walking 1B Jonathan Rodriguez to load the bases. Garcia then raced in from third and just beat the throw home on an RBI sacrifice fly to right field by RF Curt Smith, increasing the Cardinals lead to 4-1.

The insurance run proved to be important, as the Travelers attempted the comeback with two tallies in the top of the eighth inning against LHP Ryan Sherriff. Melker started the inning by being hit by a pitch, before scoring all the way from first base one out later. With Melker at first and one down, DH Mike Bianucci drove a double to right field with Melker initially stopping at third. Melker, though, darted in the final ninety feet when the relay throw from Garcia got away, also enabling Bianucci to take third base. Long then drove in Bianucci with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, bringing the Travs within one run, 4-3.

However, Sherriff worked out of the eighth with no further damage, before RHP Joey Donofrio (S, 14) slammed the door with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning, closing the 4-3 win for the Cardinals.

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

Yadier Molina, Greg Garcia, 10th Season Beer Steins and $1 Brats on Thursday

The Cardinals continue the final homestand of the 2014 Regular Season with a 7:10pm First Pitch against the Travelers on Thursday, August 28. St. Louis C Yadier Molina and INF Greg Garcia are both expected to suit up again for the Cards during the game. Additionally, Thursday is the Budweiser Commemorative 10th Season Beer Stein Giveaway (2,500, ages 21+) and "Buck a Brat" Night with $1 bratwursts all game. Gates open at 6:10pm.

Don't miss the final home game of the 2014 Regular Season on Friday, August 29 with Fan Appreciation Day Free Vouchers for a 2015 Game and AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks featuring the Top Hits of 2014. First Pitch is 7:10pm, gates open at 6:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a The Cup 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 complete 2014 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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