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Travelers claim series opener, 8-4

August 27, 2013

North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers won the series opener, 8-4, against the Springfield Cardinals before 3,043 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Tuesday night.

Springfield (31-33, 64-68) got off to a powerful start in the top of the first against RHP Brandon Hynick (W, 11-5). With two down, 3B Ruben Gotay extended the inning with a walk. 1B Xavier Scruggs then belted a two-run home run to left-center, before RF Stephen Piscotty followed with a solo shot to left to swing the Cards into the 3-0 lead.

After LHP Tim Cooney (L, 7-9) kept the Travelers (34-30, 67-66) off the board through the first two innings, Arkansas struck in the third. With two away, RF Randal Grichuk kept the inning alive with a double, before racing in on an RBI single from 2B Taylor Lindsey to make it 3-1.

Arkansas then seized the lead with consecutive three-run frames in the fourth and fifth. With two away in the fourth and a runner at third base, SS Jimmy Swift placed an RBI single to center field. He then raced to third on a base hit by 3B Kaleb Cowart, before a balk scored Swift and moved Cowart to second. An RBI single from CF Travis Witherspoon brought in Cowart for the 4-3 lead.

The Travelers remained on the attack in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs with a pair of singles and a walk. After an RBI groundout from 1B CJ Cron, DH Robbie Widlansky drove a two-run single to stretch it to a 7-3 advantage.

The Cardinals chipped down the deficit with a solo blast by 2B Colin Walsh in the top of the seventh, but Arkansas countered with an RBI groundout by Cowart in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead back to four runs.

A pair of scoreless relief innings from Arkansas RHP David Carpenter in the eighth and LHP Nick Maronde in the ninth closed the 8-4 win for the Travelers.

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

The Cardinals continue the road trip in Arkansas on Wednesday 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.

Springfield returns home for the final home series of the 2013 Regular Season, starting on Saturday, August 31. That night will feature the Mercy Knit Scarf Giveaway (2,500), along with AM Pyrotechnics End of Season Fireworks. The Cardinals will also be wearing Teal Pinstripe Specialty Jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit GYNCA. First Pitch is 6:09pm, gates open at 5:09pm.

The Cardinals then take on the Tulsa Drillers again on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6:09pm for the Purina Bark in the Park, when all fans can bring their dogs to the game. The night will feature a pregame pet parade, with all fans that bring pets invited to march around the field. To participate in the parade, please arrive at the ballpark by 5:30pm.

The Sunday, Sept. 1 game will also feature the Purina Pet Food Bowl Mat Giveaway for 2,500 fans. Sunday's game will be a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with free ice cream for kids before the game, and then all kids can run the bases after the game. Gates open at 5:09pm.

The Cardinals then wrap up the 2013 Regular Season on Monday, Sept. 2 with a 12:09pm First Pitch. The Labor Day ballgame is Fan Appreciation Day, with all fans in attendance receiving a free ticket voucher for a 2014 game.

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.

Click here for the Cardinals full 2013 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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