Cardinals cruise by Travelers, 12-2

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals belted four home runs en route to the 12-2 win against the Arkansas Travelers before 4,351 fans at Hammons Field on Monday afternoon. 1B Xavier Scruggs helped lead the barrage with two homers and five RBIs.

The Cardinals (12-12) jumped in front in the bottom of the first inning against RHP Brandon Hynick (L, 0-2). After LF Mike O'Neill reached on an error, CF Tommy Pham followed with a base hit. A ground out advanced both runners ninety feet, and then DH Chris Swauger brought both home with a two-run single to center field. One out later, Swauger raced home from first on an RBI triple by RF Adam Melker, swinging Springfield to the 3-0 lead.

A solo home run by Swauger in the third stretched the lead to 4-0, before Springfield added a fifth run in the fourth. With runners at the corners and no outs, C Audry Perez bounced into a double play but scored Melker from third in the process, making it 5-0.

The Travelers (11-13) managed to get on the board against RHP Carlos Martinez (W, 1-0) in the top of the fifth. 2B Taylor Lindsey got the inning started with a solo home run to right-center, cutting the Cardinals lead to 5-1.

However, Springfield responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Scruggs sent a towering shot over the right-center field wall for a grand slam, stretching the advantage to 9-1.

A two-run homer by Pham in the sixth and a solo shot by Scruggs, his second of the game, in the seventh tacked on the Cardinals final three runs. Facing LHP Dean Kiekhefer in the ninth, Arkansas 3B Kaleb Cowart placed an RBI double to right field, but Kiekhefer quickly closed it after that, finalizing the 12-2 win for Springfield.

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

The Cardinals kick off a road series in Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday at 7 p.m. 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.

Springfield returns home to begin an eight-game homestand this Saturday with a 6:09 p.m. First Pitch against the Tulsa Drillers. Saturday will feature the 2012 Texas League Championship Replica Ring Giveaway (2,500 fans). Gates open at 5:09 p.m.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, ordering the new Friday, Saturday, and Promo Items Packs (only 100 available), the custom-designed Championship Packs (only 100 available) or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-0395 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here for the Cardinals full 2013 Promotional Schedule.