Cardinals record 11 base knocks, fall 6-4 to Travelers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- And so the focus turns to the 2nd-Half.

The Cardinals were eliminated by the Travelers in the 1st-Half pennant race Saturday night, falling 6-4 in front of another sellout crowd of 6,890 at Hammons Field.

The loss ends a tough 2-6 homestand for Springfield, which entered the week just a game out of first place with eight games at home and just two on the road to end the half. Tonight's loss dropped the Cardinals three games behind the Travelers with two games remaining.

The Cardinals scored first when Andrew Knizner drove Tommy Edman home on a groundout to short in the top of the first. That lead grew to 2-0 on Chris Chinea's single with Lane Thomas at second.

Arkansas battled back and ahead in the second off Cardinals starter Mike O'Reilly. Donnie Walton's single scored two to tie things. Next, a bases-loaded walk of Braden Bishop put the Travelers ahead. The lead grew to 4-2 on Chuck Taylor's sacrifice fly to right.

Springfield got back within a run when Edmundo Sosa singled home Edman in the 3rd, but fourth-inning RBIs from Taylor and Eric Filia pushed Arkansas' lead even higher at 6-3.
Sosa finished with three hits for the second consecutive game.

O'Reilly lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks. Two of the runs were unearned.

The ninth inning provided some drama when Granden Goetzman's double down the line in left brought the Cardinals within 6-4 with one out, but Evan Mendoza struck out and Victor Roache flew out to center to end things.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals travel to Tulsa for a four-game series that begins Sunday at 1:05pm.

Springfield returns home Thursday, June 21 for another four-game series with Arkansas. That game is our St. Louis Cardinals Chris Carpenter Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000 fans) and a Klement's $1 Bratwurst Night.