Trio of homers, Rondon's pitching push Cardinals to 5-2 win over Travelers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals (25-29, 55-69) took the first of a three-game weekend series with the first-place Arkansas Travelers (30-24, 73-49) 5-2 on Friday night in front of 4,794 fans at Hammons Field.

DECISIONS:
W: RHP Angel Rondon (5-4)
L: LHP Justus Sheffield (5-3)
S: RHP Connor Jones (6)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- A trio of Cardinals homered in each of the first three innings, building a 5-0 lead for Springfield that carried to the final out. RF Johan Mieses blasted a two-run shot (12) to the top of the berm in center field in the first. In the second, 3B Elehuris Montero went opposite field (6) to right-center for a 3-0 lead. Then in the third, SS Rayder Ascanio blasted his fifth of the season into the visitors bullpen to put the Cardinals ahead 5-0.

- Seattle Mariners top prospect and Travelers RF Jarred Kelenic connected on his first Double-A home run in the sixth, cutting the score to 5-2.

NOTABLES:
- Rondon piled on another strong start in his first Double-A season, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 7.0 innings, striking out seven.

- RHP Merandy Gonzalez tossed a scoreless eighth with a pair of strikeouts before handing it over for Jones and his 1-2-3 ninth.

- After Sheffield held opponents to two earned runs or fewer in his first 10 Double-A starts, the Cardinals put a season-worst five runs on the Mariners No. 9 prospect on Friday after pushing three across in his last start on August 11, also at Hammons Field.

UP NEXT AT HAMMONS The Cardinals and Travelers play the second game of their three-game set on Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. and gates opening at 5:10 p.m.

Saturday is our Mercy Cardinals Fleece Pullover Giveaway for 2,000 fans.