Travelers hang on in slugfest, 11-7

North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers topped the Springfield Cardinals, 11-7, before 5,254 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Friday night. Cardinals LF Starlin Rodriguez helped pace the attack with three hits and five RBIs.

Springfield (19-23, 52-58) struck first in the top of the second against RHP Manny Correa (W, 5-10). With one away, SS Luis Mateo singled himself on, quickly moving to second base on a ground out. Rodriguez then picked up his first RBI, placing a high-bouncing infield single to the left side that gave Mateo enough time to race in from second for the 1-0 lead.

The Travelers (25-17, 58-53), though, came back with a big inning in the bottom of the third against LHP Tim Cooney (L, 6-7) and the Cards. The Travs sent 12 batters to the plate, striking for eight runs on seven hits with a pair of Cardinals miscues, jumping in front, 8-1.

The Cardinals started chipping away immediately in the top of the fourth inning. With one down, Mateo and RF Adam Melker got on with consecutive singles, before Rodriguez brought both in with a two-run double. A ground out moved Rodriguez to third, and he then darted in on an RBI single to center field from CF James Ramsey, cutting it down to an 8-4 deficit.

Arkansas stretched the lead back out with single runs in the fourth and fifth frames against LHP Justin Wright. 3B Kaleb Cowart struck in the fourth with an RBI single, before C Carlos Ramirez drove a solo home run over the left field wall in the fifth, increasing the Travs lead to 10-4.

Springfield refused to go down quietly, plating three runs in the top of the eighth inning against RHP Michael Cisco. 3B Vance Albitz started the stanza with a double, before Cisco induced a pair of ground outs. With Albitz at third base, Mateo lined an RBI double inside the left field line, bringing home Albitz. After Melker worked a walk, he and Mateo completed a double steal, swiping second and third base. Rodriguez then dunked a two-run single into shallow right field, scoring both runners to bring the Cardinals within only three runs, 10-7.

However, Arkansas 2B Taylor Lindsey responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, before the Travelers logged a scoreless top of the ninth, hanging on for the 11-7 win.

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

The Cardinals continue the seven-game trip on Saturday with a 6:10pm First Pitch in Arkansas. 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 kick off a six-game homestand on Tuesday, August 6, taking on the Frisco RoughRiders at 7:09pm. That Tuesday will feature the Sysco Foods Team Baseball Card Set Giveaway for 4,000 fans, and will also be a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 6:09pm. To view all of the great upcoming promotions at Hammons Field, click below.

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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