NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – One night after being swept in Friday’s doubleheader, the Arkansas Travelers bounced back with a 9-1 win against the Springfield Cardinals before 8,885 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park on Saturday evening.
The Travs (13-21) came out swinging, plating a pair of runs against RHP Sandy Alcantara (L, 2-3) in the bottom of the first. Alcantara retired the frame’s first two batters, but Arkansas extended the inning with a pair of walks around a single to load the bases. C Tyler Marlette then dealt a two-run single, lifting the Travelers into the 2-0 lead.
Arkansas doubled the lead in the bottom of the second. DH Kyle Petty led off with a walk, before racing home on an RBI triple from SS Joey Wong. One out later, Wong stomped home on an RBI sacrifice fly from 2B Gianfranco Wawoe for the 4-0 advantage.
Alcantara dealt scoreless third and fourth innings, but the Travelers opened the lead further in the fifth. With two on and two down, Marlette scorched a two-run double to left field. He then came in on an RBI base hit from 3B Nelson Ward to make it 7-0.
The Travs tacked on their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth against RHP Daniel Bard. With one away, Arkansas worked four straight walks, including an RBI free pass from RF Kyle Waldrop to force in a run. Marlette then notched his fifth RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly to left field, increasing the Arkansas advantage to 9-0.
While the Travs were swinging away, RHP Tyler Herb (W, 1-2) kept the Cardinals (18-15) off the board through his first eight innings. Back on the mound in search of the complete-game shutout, Herb faltered to start the top of the ninth when DH Dickie Joe Thon blasted a solo shot to left field, his second homer of the season. Herb battled back to retire the next batter, before RHP Thyago Vieira slammed the door with back-to-back groundouts to close the 9-1 win for the Travelers.
