TEXAS LEAGUE

Top of Cards’ lineup trips slumping Travs

The Arkansas Travelers continued to struggle with the top of the Springfield Cardinals’ lineup on Saturday night, and the Travs lost their second consecutive game.

Mike O’Neill and James Ramsey, the Nos. 1 and 2 hitters in the Cardinals’ lineup, combined for 4 hits, 3 runs and 3 RBI in a 6-1 victory over the Travs on Saturday night at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. It came a day after the two combined for three RBI in a 9-5 victory.

O’Neill walked in the first inning before Ramsey hit his fifth home run of the season to give Springfield a 2-0 lead after Arkansas starter Yeiper Castillo had thrown 11 pitches. O’Neill then hit an RBI triple and scored in a four-run fourth that gave Springfield a 6-1 lead.

The Travelers, who haven’t won since April 11, got their only run in the fourth inning, when outfielder Zach Borenstein hit his first home run of the season. But the Travs managed four other hits - all singles - off Springfield starter Jonathan Cornelius (1-2), who struck out six in seven innings.

Reliever Danny Miranda then pitched two perfect innings to seal the Cardinals’ third consecutive victory over the Travs. Springfield will go for the four-game series sweep at 4:10 p.m. today.

Another loss today for the Travs, who raced to a 6-2 record to start the season, would make it their longest losing streak since losing nine consecutive in August 2011.

Today’s game

ARKANSAS AT SPRINGFIELD WHEN 4:10 p.m.

WHERE Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo. RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas WEBSITE travs.com

PITCHERS Travelers: RHP Mark Sappington (0-2, 8.76 ERA); Cardinals: RHP Kurt Heyer (1-1, 3.86)

SHORT HOPS OF Adam Melker was signed by the Los Angeles Angels and assigned to Class AA Arkansas on Saturday. Melker, 26, spent the past four seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals system and hit .258 with 8 home runs and 32 RBI at Springfield last season.

THE WEEK AHEAD

TODAY at Springfield, 4:10 p.m.

MONDAY Tulsa, 7:10 p.m.

TUESDAY Tulsa, 7:10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY Tulsa, 11 a.m.

THURSDAY Tulsa 7:10 p.m.

FRIDAY Springfield, 7:10 p.m.

SATURDAY Springfield, 6:10 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAMES Springfield 6, Arkansas 1 Tulsa 9, NW Arkansas 3 Frisco 6, Corpus Christi 0 San Antonio at Midland, ppd., rain

TODAY’S GAMES All times Central San Antonio at Midland, 2 p.m.

Corpus Christi at Frisco, 2:05 p.m.

Arkansas at Springfield, 4:10 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES Springfield at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m. San Antonio at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

Tulsa at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.

Midland at Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m.

Sports, Pages 27 on 04/20/2014

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