Cardinals claim series win with 6-3 victory

North Little Rock, AR - The Springfield Cardinals struck for five runs in the first and cruised to the 6-3 win against the Arkansas Travelers, before 7,610 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Sunday evening. The game was delayed for one hour and 13 minutes due to rain.

The Cardinals (13-10) five-run rally in the top of the first against RHP Drew Rucinski (L, 2-1) all started with a walk from LF Mike O'Neill. CF Rafael Ortega and RF James Ramsey followed with singles to load the bases, before DH Jonathan Rodriguez ripped a two-run single up the middle. After 1B Curt Smith singled to reload the bases, Rucinski battled back with two consecutive strikeouts. However, 2B Greg Miclat worked an RBI walk to force in Ramsey, and then C Travis Tartamella capped the rally with a two-run single to make it 5-0.

Springfield stretched the lead with a sixth run in the top of the fifth. Rodriguez led off with a double, before moving to third on a groundout. SS Luis Mateo then brought in Rodriguez with an RBI single, increasing the lead to 6-0.

After RHP Seth Blair (W, 2-0) kept the Travelers (8-15) off the board through his five scoreless innings, Arkansas struck for two runs in the bottom of the sixth. With runners at the corners and one down, CF Kyle Hudson placed an RBI single. 2B Alex Yarbrough followed with an RBI groundout to make it 6-2.

A bases-loaded RBI single from SS Eric Stamets in the bottom of the seventh brought the Travelers within three runs, but RHP Logan Billbrough induced an inning-ending double play to get the Cardinals out of the jam with no further damage. LHP Justin Wright (1.2 innings) and RHP Joey Donofrio (S, 0.1 inning) then combined to deal the final two frames in scoreless fashion, closing the 6-3 win for the Cardinals.

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

Cardinals return for 8-game homestand starting on Tuesday, April 29

The Cardinals conclude the road trip against the Travelers on Monday at 7:10pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

The Cardinals return home to start an eight-game homestand on Tuesday, April 29 with a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day at 7:10pm. The homestand will feature three educational days (4/30, 5/5, 5/6), the 2013 St. Louis Cardinals National League Championship Replica Ring Giveaway (2,500) and a "Buck a Brat" Night on Thursday, May 1, AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks featuring Music from the 90s on Friday, May 2, the Price Cutter and Bar-S Foods 10th Season T-Shirt Giveaway (2,500) on Saturday, May 3 and much, much more. Click below to view the complete schedule.

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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