LITTLE ROCK — Ariel Pena took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and didn’t allow a run while striking out eight batters in seven innings to lead the Arkansas Travelers to a 5-0 victory over the Springfield Cardinals on Tuesday at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo.
The only batter to reach base against Pena (6-6) through the first 4 2/3 innings did so on a second-inning error and the right-handed Pena walked only one while earning his first victory since June 23 and lowering his ERA to 2.99.
He got help when the Travs scored in five innings.
Paul McAnulty, playing in his first game this season for for Class AA Arkansas after being sent down from Class AAA Salt Lake on Sunday, hit an RBI double in the first that scored Roberto Lopez and gave the Travs a 1-0 lead.
Arkansas extended its lead when Travis Witherspoon grounded into a double play to score Angel Castillo in the fifth and when Ryan Mount also grounded into a double play that scored Lopez in the sixth to make it 3-0 against Springfield starter Carlos Martinez.
The Travs later scored two runs off reliever Kevin Thomas. Renny Osuna doubled and scored on Brian Hernandez’s groundout in the eighth and Carlos Ramirez walked and scored on a wild pitch in theninth.
The Travs have won four of their past five games and seven of their past nine, their best nine-game stretch of the season.
Travelers glance ARKANSAS AT SPRINGFIELD WHEN 7:08 p.m. Central today WHERE Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo.
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas WEBSITE travs.com PITCHERS Travelers: RHP Johnny Hellweg (5-9, 3.12 ERA); Cardinals: LHP Anthony Ferrara (0-0, 3.38) SHORT HOPS RHP Eddie McKiernan was sent to Class AA Arkansas from Class AAA Salt Lake on Tuesday. McKiernan started the season with the Travelers but was sent to Salt Lake in May. He was 5-3 with a 7.03 ERA in 11 appearances with the Bees this season.
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY at Springfield, 7:08 p.m.
THURSDAY at Springfield, 7:08 p.m.
FRIDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
SUNDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
MONDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
TUESDAY vs. Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 07/25/2012