Travs take both halves of Wednesday's twin bill

Springfield, MO - The Arkansas Travelers took both halves of Wednesday night's doubleheader against the Springfield Cardinals before 3,286 fans at Hammons Field. Arkansas won the first seven-inning game, 9-0, before taking game two, 5-2, in seven frames.

Game 1: Travelers 9 vs. Cardinals 0, 7 innings

After four scoreless frames from LHP Austin Gomber (L, 2-5) to start, the Travelers (31-33) broke through in the top of the fourth inning. RF Keury De La Cruz started the frame with a base hit, followed by a free pass from 1B Kyle Petty. After a sacrifice bunt from SS Joey Wong advanced both runners, a two-run single from 3B Adam Law brought both home for the 2-0 lead. The Travs quickly doubled the advantage when the next batter, CF Ian Miller, slugged a two-run home run to right field, increasing it to a 4-0 Arkansas advantage. The Travs kept the pressure on, loading the bases one out later with a single and a hit batter against Gomber, before adding a walk from LHP Corey Littrell. With the bases loaded and De La Cruz back up, a wild pitch bounced away to bring home DH Chuck Taylor from third. De La Cruz then struck with a two-run single up the middle, stretching it to a 7-0 advantage.

Arkansas padded the lead with single runs in the sixth and seventh against the Cardinals (31-33). An RBI single from Ian Miller in the sixth opened it to an 8-0 lead, before a solo home run from LF Dario Pizzano in the seventh accounted for the eventual final score of 9-0. A quartet of Travs combined for the shutout, with RHP Max Povse tossing the first 3.1 innings, RHP Darin Gillies (W, 2-2) dealing 1.2 frames and a scoreless inning apiece from RHP Tyler Knigge and RHP Thyago Vieira to slam the door in the seven-inning win for Arkansas.
Click here for the complete box score.
Game 2: Travelers 5 vs. Cardinals 2, 7 innings
The Cardinals came out swinging in the second game, opening an early lead in the bottom of the first against RHP Brett Ash. LF Oscar Mercado led off the inning with his 10th double of the year, before advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt from SS Alex Mejia. CF Magneuris Sierra then laced a line drive to center field that sailed past the sliding catch attempt of CF Chuck Taylor and bounced all the way back to the wall. Mercado came darting home, while Sierra raced raced all the way around for a two-run, inside-the-park homer, his first Double-A home run, lifting Springfield ahead, 2-0.

Cardinals RHP Chris Ellis kept the two-run lead intact through his first four scoreless frames, but the Travs once again got the bats going in the top of the fifth. Consecutive singles from 1B Kyle Waldrop and RF Keury De La Cruz started the stanza, before Ellis dug in with a strikeout. However, 3B Nelson Ward came through with an RBI single lined to right field, scoring Waldrop and leading to LHP Ian McKinney taking over on the mound. With runners at the corners, McKinney's first pitch bounced away from C Andrew Knizner, allowing De La Cruz to come home for the 2-2 tie. DH Ian Miller reached on a fielding error charged to SS Alex Mejia, setting up runners at the corners once again. SS Joey Wong then skied a go-ahead RBI sacrifice fly to left field, bringing in Ward to lift the Travs into the 3-2 lead.

Arkansas added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. 3B Nelson Ward sparked the frame with a double, before going to third on a single from DH Ian Miller. An RBI base hit by SS Joey Wong brought in Ward from third base, moving Miller to second. After a groundout to first base moved the runners to second and third, the Cardinals intentionally walked LF Dario Pizzano to load the bases. C Marcus Littlewood then skied an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, plating Ward for the 5-2 advantage.

Travelers LHP Zac Curtis (S, 7) then worked around a Mercado single and a hit batter in the bottom of the seventh, posting a scoreless final frame to close the 5-2 win for Arkansas in seven innings.
Click here for the complete box score.
Three Bobblehead Giveaways, Dry Fit Shirts, Three Fireworks Shows, Military Appreciation Night and more during June 14 - 25 Homestand
The Cardinals continue the huge homestand at Hammons Field with home games every day through Sunday, June 25. Don't miss any of the fun, including:

-Thursday, June 15, 7:10pm - Price Cutter & Bar-S Foods Luke Voit Home Run Derby/Batting Champion Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and Klement's "Buck a Brat" Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, June 16, 7:10pm - Six Flags St. Louis Free Kids Ticket Giveaway (1,000 kids under 48 inches), AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks with Animal Kingdom Songs and Kids Dress Up Like Animals Day. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, June 17, 6:10pm - Vision Clinic Alex Reyes #1 Pitching Prospect Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and Specialty Jersey Auction to benefit Isabel's House. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, June 18, 4:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 3:10pm.

-Monday, June 19, 6:30pm - Monday Night Baseball vs. the Tulsa Drillers. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Tuesday, June 20, 6:30pm - Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Wednesday, June 21, 11:10am - Day Baseball, Chamber of Commerce Networking Day and Summer School Discovery Center Science Educational Day. Gates open at 10:10am.

-Thursday, June 22, 7:10pm - American National Dexter Fowler 2008 Texas League All-Star Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and Klement's "Buck a Brat" Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, June 23, 7:10pm - AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks with Songs from Musicals. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, June 24, 6:10pm - Mercy Dry Fit Shirt Giveaway (2,000), Infuze Credit Union / Fort Leonard Wood Military Appreciation Night, Military Appreciation Fireworks Celebration and Specialty Camo Jersey Auction to benefit MSU ROTC. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, June 25, 2:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 1:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a 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 2017 Promotional Schedule and to order your tickets right now.
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