The Arkansas Travelers don't appear to be interested in giving up first place in the Texas League's North Division.
A day after taking a half-game lead over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Travelers beat the Springfield Cardinals to pick up their sixth victory in their past eight games. The 5-0 victory in front of an announced crowd of 2,573 kept Arkansas a half game ahead of the Naturals with seven games left to play.
The Naturals rolled the Tulsa Drillers, 11-6 to stay in the second-half race.
The Travelers didn't waste any time jumping on the Cardinals.
Cardinals starting pitcher Corey Baker struck out the first two Travelers batters he faced in the bottom of the first, before first baseman Alex Yarbrough laced a double into the right-field corner. Andrew Daniel followed that with a walk before Jabari Henry hit his second home run in as many bats -- this one over the right field wall a night after hitting his first home run in 43 games -- to put the Travelers ahead 3-0.
"Jabari's been swinging the bat really well lately," Travelers Manager Mark Parent said. "A lot of the guys have been -- Yarbrough, Andrew [Daniel]. It's important that they just do what they need to, though. A lot of times, these guys will get in a groove and start trying to do more than they need to. And, tonight, we didn't do that."
The Cardinals threatened to score several times, getting a runner into scoring position with only one out three times, but never advanced a runner past second. They stranded six runners in the first five innings and eight for the game.
The Cardinals strongest threat came in the eighth when Travelers reliever Nate Fury put runner on first and second with consecutive walks and one out with Texas League batting leader Luke Voit coming to the plate. A double-play ball up the middle on a full count pulled Fury out of the jam.
"We've been getting lucky, too," Parent said, pointing out that Voit fouled a ball off the handle of his bat on a 3-1 pitch that would have loaded the bases. "But, Nate came right back at him and made the pitch he needed to for us. He knew his defense would back him up because that's what they've been doing all season."
The Travelers added an insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth.
In the fifth, Sean Coyle led off with a single to left before stealing second to get into scoring position. Coyle scored when Yabrough hit a ball deep to center for the second out, but centerfielder Harrison Bader overthrew third base, allowing Coyle to walk in for a 4-0 lead.
Henry picked up his second extra-base hit of the night with a double just past third baseman Paul DeJong in the sixth. Bo Way then drove in Henry with a double to deep right to put Arkansas ahead 4-0.
Travelers starter Alex Blackford (9-7) went five innings for Arkansas, striking out four, giving up four hits and walking one batter. Baker (3-8) picked up the loss, giving up nine hits and four runs, while striking out seven and walking three. Four Travelers relievers finished out the victory for Arkansas.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS VS. SPRINGFIELD
WHEN 5:30 p.m., doubleheader
WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas
WEBSITE travs.com
PITCHERS Travelers: Jose Molina (LHP, 3-5, 4.46 ERA) and Alex Klonowski (RHP, 8-13, 3.58); Cardinals: Daniel Poncedeleon (RHP, 9-7, 3.41 ERA) and TBA
TICKETS Gates open 1 hour before first pitch. Box $13, reserved $9 ($6 children), general admission $7 ($5 children)
PROMOTIONS $1 hot dogs, $3 discount coupons at AT&T stores, $3 discount with college ID
TRAVS WEEK AHEAD
TODAY Springfield, 5:30 p.m. (DH)
THURSDAY Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
FRIDAY Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at NW Arkansas, 6:05 p.m.
SUNDAY at NW Arkansas, 6:05 p.m.
MONDAY at NW Arkansas, 1:05 p.m.
Sports on 08/31/2016