Cardinals cruise in series finale, 4-1

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals cruised to the 4-1 win against the Arkansas Travelers before 6,009 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday afternoon.

After Springfield LHP Nick Greenwood (W, 3-4) and Arkansas RHP Manny Correa (L, 3-8) kept it scoreless through the first two, the Cardinals (4-2, 37-37) broke through with a pair in the third. With one down 2B Luis Mateo hooked a double into the left field corner, swinging himself into scoring position. CF James Ramsey followed with a sharp RBI single up the middle, plating Mateo from second base. After taking second base on a ground out, Ramsey raced home on an RBI base hit from 3B Ruben Gotay, doubling the Cardinals early lead to 2-0.

Springfield stretched the lead with another run in the bottom of the fifth. Ramsey sparked the charge with a double ripped to right field. After a grounder advanced Ramsey to third, Gotay again brought him home with another RBI single chopped up the middle, increasing the advantage to 3-0.

The Cardinals kept swinging away in the bottom of the sixth against Correa. Leading off the frame, RF Stephen Piscotty launched his first Double A home run, a solo shot that lifted Springfield ahead, 4-0.

Greenwood kept the Travelers (3-3, 36-39) off the bases until a solo homer from C Carlos Ramirez in the top of the seventh, cutting the Cardinals lead down to three runs. However, that was all Springfield would allow, receiving scoreless relief from LHP Lee Stoppelman (1.1 innings), RHP Heath Wyatt (0.1 innings) and RHP Deryk Hooker (1.0 inning) to close the 4-1 victory. Hooker logged his fifth save of the year, while Greenwood registered the win.

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

After six Cardinals - 3B Ruben Gotay, OF Mike O'Neill, OF Chris Swauger, RHP Deryk Hooker, RHP Kevin Thomas and LHP Tim Cooney - suit up in the 2013 Texas League All-Star Game in Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday night, the Cards kick off a six-game road trip on Wednesday in Corpus Christi at 7:05pm. 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.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Cake Pop Company Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

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