Travs grind out 10-7 win to even the series

North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers claimed a grueling 10-7 win against the Springfield Cardinals before 7,075 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Friday night.

The two teams combined to score in 11 of the 17 half-innings in the back-and-forth battle. Springfield's winning streak came to an end at four games, though they have still won six of their last eight and seven of their last 10.

STRIKING FIRST
For the third straight game, the Cardinals (7-7) dealt the first blow, this time plating a pair with an RBI groundout from C Andrew Knizner and 1B John Nogowski in the top of the 1st. As both sides exchanged runs early, an RBI single from Knizner in the 3rd lifted Springfield into the 4-3 lead. It was part of a three-hit, three-RBI day for Knizner, who has gone 12x23 through his last six games and is now hitting .421 on the year.

THE GAME TURNED WHEN
After Knizner's third RBI of the night in the 5th inning made it a 5-3 lead for Springfield, the Travs (7-7) rallied with three tallies in the bottom of the 5th against RHP Ramon Santos (L, 0-1). Two one-out walks and a base hit loaded the bases, before a run-scoring error, an RBI walk and an RBI sacrifice fly catapulted the Travs ahead, 6-5.

LIFT FROM HEALY
Rehabbing Seattle Mariners INF Ryon Healy went 2x4 with an RBI single in the 1st inning and a big three-run shot in the 7th that changed a narrow 7-6 Travs lead to a 10-6 advantage for Arkansas. Healy is rehabbing an ankle injury that has kept him out of the Mariners lineup since April 7.

A NEAR MISS
After Healy's 7th-inning blast made it 10-6, the Cardinals had one last rally attempt in the 8th against RHP Matt Festa. 2B Luke Dykstra was hit by a pitch to open the inning, followed by a LF Thomas Spitz walk and a bunt single from SS Tommy Edman, his third hit of the night. After a strikeout, CF Lane Thomas forced in Dysktra with an RBI walk that brought the Cards within three runs and kept the bases loaded. However, RHP Art Warren (S, 2) took over and retired the next two Cardinals in order before tossing a scoreless ninth, ending the threat and closing the Travs win, 10-7.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
-CF Lane Thomas went 1x3 with an RBI, a run and two walks, extending his league-best 14-game on-base streak to start the season

-RF Victor Roache also extended his 11-game on-base streak with a triple in the second inning

-RHP Estarlin Arias tossed 2.1 scoreless relief innings and has started his Double-A career with 8.0 shutout innings across four outings early this year

-Veteran RHP Andrew Morales joined Springfield from AAA-Memphis and tossed 1.1 innings out of the bullpen tonight. He had gone 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA through four outings with the Redbirds to start the season.
Click here for the complete box score.
Green Pinstripe Caps, Travel Duffle Bags, Pregame Happy Hour, Fans-On-Field Fireworks and more from April 23 - 30
The Cardinals continue the series in Arkansas this Saturday at 6:10pm. 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 then returns home for an eight-game homestand with games at Hammons Field every day from Monday, April 23 - Monday, April 30. Don't miss any of the upcoming fun, including:

-Monday, April 23, 6:30pm - Monday Night Baseball vs. the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Tuesday, April 24, 6:30pm - Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Wednesday, April 25, 11:10am - Day Baseball, KY3 Weather School Educational Day and High School Career in Sports Day. Gates open at 10:10am.

-Thursday, April 26, 7:10pm - Klement's $1 Bratwurst Night and Pregame On-Field Happy Hour. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, April 27, 7:10pm - Fans-On-Field Fireworks with 27th Anniversary of 1991 Songs. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, April 28, 4:10pm - Expedia Travel Duffle Bag Giveaway (2,000). Gates open at 3:10pm.

-Sunday, April 29, 2:10pm - Central Bank of the Ozarks Green Pinstripe Cap Giveaway (2,000), 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 2018 Promotional Schedule and to order your tickets right now!