Travs Offense Can't Keep Pace With Cards in 13-7 Loss

North Little Rock, AR-The Springfield Cardinals matched the season high marks for runs and hits off the Arkansas Travelers in a 13-7 decision on Saturday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. A four-run first inning put the Travs in a hole they were not able to recover from. The closest they got was to within two runs in the middle innings. The loss spoiled the Double-A debut for Mariners top prospect Kyle Lewis. Hitting sixth as the designated hitter, Lewis went 2-3 on the night with a walk, hit by pitch, two runs scored and a run batted in. Donnie Walton drove in a career-best four runs for Arkansas including a three-run homer. Johan Mieses led the Cardinal attack with a career-high hits in a 4-6 night with a homer and three batted in.
Moments That Mattered
* Springfield hit back-to-back homers with two out in the first as Johan Mieses and Andrew Knizner went deep to push the lead to four.
* Walton's three-run homer in the fourth cut the margin to two.
* The Travs left the bases loaded in the second inning when Blake Drake robbed Chuck Taylor with a diving catch on his liner to center. Then again in the fifth they left the bags full on their way to stranding 13 runners in the game.
Notable Travs Performances
* DH Kyle Lewis: 2-3, 2 runs, BB, RBI
* 3B Logan Taylor: 3-4, run, BB, RBI
* 2B Donnie Walton: 2-4, run, BB, HR, 4 RBI
Up Next
The Travs try to capture the series on Sunday night in a 6:10 first pitch. RH Ashton Goudeau (1-5, 8.20 in AAA) makes his Trav debut against RH Anthony Shew (4-5, 4.46). Kids get to run the bases after the games which will also be broadcast on the Sports Animal 920, the First Pitch App, TuneIn radio and milb.tv.