NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Travelers struck for runs in the seventh and eighth to seize the 6-4 win against the Springfield Cardinals before 6,492 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Saturday night.
The Travelers (8-7) came out on fire, plating four runs in the bottom of the first against RHP Matt Pearce. Rehabbing Seattle Mariners SS Jean Segura led off the inning with a single, followed by a free pass from CF Ian Miller. One out later, C Tyler Marlette worked a walk to load the bases. Pearce battled back with a strikeout, but 3B Jay Baum dealt a two-run single to start the scoring. After a walk reloaded the bases, DH Kyle Petty lined a two-run base hit to center field, doubling the Travs lead to 4-0.
Pearce worked out of the first inning with no further damage, before digging in with scoreless work throughout the rest of his start. After the troublesome first frame, Pearce allowed just two more hits through his next five scoreless innings, finishing with six innings of work and keeping the Cardinals in the game.
Springfield (8-7) started chipping away in the top of the second against RHP Lindsey Caughel. With one away, 1B Casey Grayson drove a double to deep center field. SS Alex Mejia followed with a single to move Grayson to third, before C Gabriel Lino brought Grayson home with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, chipping down the deficit to 4-1.
The Cardinals continued the comeback in the top of the third. DH Nick Martini opened the inning with a walk. RF Blake Drake then drilled an RBI double to left field, scoring Martini from first but being retired trying to get to third base. With the bases empty and one down, 2B Bruce Caldwell hammered a solo home run to right field, his third long-ball of the year and team-leading 13th RBI, bringing the Cards within one run, 4-3.
Springfield completed the comeback in the top of the fifth inning against RHP Darin Gillies. With one down, Drake sparked the rally with a bunt single. One out later, 3B Jacob Wilson sent a towering, two-out RBI double to center field, scoring Drake from first base and evening it at 4-4.
Pearce kept the tie intact through the remainder of his six innings, but Arkansas reclaimed the advantage against RHP Corey Baker (L, 0-1) in the seventh. SS Joey Wong started the inning with a walk, quickly moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from 2B Brock Hebert. One out later, LF Chuck Taylor lined a two-out RBI single to left field, bringing in Wong for the 5-4 lead for the Travs.
Arkansas added an insurance run in the eighth. Leading off the inning, 1B Kyle Waldrop sent a solo home run over the right field fence, making it a 6-4 advantage.
Travelers LHP Zac Curtis (S, 2) took over for the top of the ninth and dealt a 1-2-3 frame, closing the 6-4 win for Arkansas. RHP Thyago Vieira (W, 1-1) logged two scoreless relief innings to register the win.
