Cardinals 1st-Half title hopes take hit in 3-1 loss to Travelers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Runs have been tough to unearth for the Cardinals this homestand. That trend didn't end tonight.

The Cardinals fell 3-1 to the Travelers on Friday in front of 5,571 fans at Hammons Field. It was the fifth time in six games that Springfield was held to three runs or fewer on this homestand and the sixth time in seven games overall.

The loss dropped Springfield two games behind Arkansas in the 1st-Half race for the Texas League North. With three games remaining in the 1st-Half, Saturday night's game is now a must-win for the Cardinals mid-season title hopes.

Jake Woodford looked good over six full innings for the Cardinals, allowing just a single run on seven hits and three walks while striking out a trio of Travelers.

In Springfield for a rehab assignment, St. Louis Cardinals reliever Greg Holland relieved Woodford in the seventh, allowing the game-winning run off a Chuck Taylor homer and striking out one. It was Taylor's first home run this season.

Springfield struck first Friday when an Edmundo Sosa third-inning single brought in Stefan Trosclair from second.

The Travelers tied the Cardinals 1-1 off Donny Walton's RBI single in the fourth.

Walton added an insurance run for Arkansas in the eighth when his double off Jacob Evans scored Chris Mariscal.

TEXAS LEAGUE UPDATE

Tulsa's 3-1 win over Northwest Arkansas pulled the Drillers even with the Cardinals in the 1st-Half race and dropped the Naturals one game behind the Travelers.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals close their series with the Travelers and their eight-game homestand on Saturday night with a 6:10pm first pitch.

Saturday is our St. Louis Cardinals "YADI" Tumbler Giveaway for 2,000 fans.