Travs Open Trip With 6-5 Win Over Cards
With wins in their last two games the Travs record sits at 15-20 while Springfield falls to 20-17 seeing their five-game winning streak halted. The Travs have played six consecutive games decided by one run, losing the first four then winning the last two.
Right hander Ryan Brasier (3-3) earned his first win since throwing a no-hitter at the end of April. He finished six innings and allowed three runs on five base hits while walking three and striking out three.
The Cards struck first when centerfielder Adron Chambers (2) led off the game with a home run to right field. McAnulty answered by taking Nick Additon (3-3) deep to begin the second to tie the game, at 1-1. The Travs almost took the lead in the second inning but Springfield right fielder Antone DeJesus climbed the wall to make a spectacular catch to take away a home run from Abel Nieves. Additon lasted seven innings giving up six runs on eight hits and a pair of home runs in taking the loss.
Brasier and Additon traded scoreless frames in the third and fourth innings before the Travs rallied in the fifth sending eight batters to the plate. It began with a one-out double by Moore, who then scored when Alberto Rosario followed with a double to the left-field corner giving the Travs a 2-1 lead. With two outs they strung together three base hits starting with Andrew Romine's RBI single. Carlos Colmenares moved Romine to third base with sharp single to right field, and he advanced to second base on the throw to third. Arkansas first baseman Efren Navarro delivered a clutch two-run single lined into right field pushing the lead to 5-1.
Moore capped the lead in the sixth inning at 6-1 with a high drive over the right-center fence.
Brasier had thrown four shutout innings until tiring in the sixth. Steven Hill reached on a third-strike wild pitch then Curt Smith singles. Brasier issued a two-out walk to load the bases for Mike Folli, who came through with a sharp single to center scoring two runs. Brasier ended his night with a strikeout of DeJesus keeping the lead to 6-3.
Left hander Robert Fish pitched the seventh inning and retired the side in order including two strikeouts. The Cardinals got to Taylor Wilding in the eighth thanks to a hit batter and a two-run homer by Aaron Luna (5) cutting the lead to 6-5.
Walden entered in the ninth for his fourth save chance. He got DeJesus to ground to short before allowing a double to Chambers putting the tying run in scoring position. The Cards had the winning run on base when Aaron Miles drew a four-pitch walk leading to an epic battle between Walden and Carpenter. After six foul balls, Carpenter shot the ninth offering back to the mound where Walden found Romine covering second base, and he returned the throw to first just in time to end the game.
Time of game was 2:33 and the paid attendance was 4,063.
NOTES: Before the game the Los Angeles Angels transferred catcher Brian Walker to the Arkansas roster from Salt Lake. Catcher Nolan Brannon was sent back to extended spring training.
Tuesday night Travelers right hander Jeremy Thorne (1-1, 4.41) comes off the disabled list to face Cards righty Gary Daley (3-3, 3.96). First pitch at Hammons Field is set for 7:10 p.m. Follow the game broadcast on Sports Animal 920 beginning at 6:50 p.m.