The longball was flying along the Arkansas River in North Little Rock on Sunday.
Unfortunately for the Arkansas Travelers, it was mostly flying out for the visiting Springfield Cardinals.
The Cardinals hit three home runs in a 6-4 victory over the Arkansas Travelers in front of an announced crowd of 8,445, the Cardinals' third consecutive victory over the Travs as the teams head to the Texas League All-Star break.
Hitting a home run can be a rare feat on many nights at Dickey-Stephens Park, but those around the nation who watched the Minor League Sunday Showcase on the American Sports Network would never know it.
Designated hitter Mike Ohlman made it 4-3 with a single to center with two outs in the top of the eighth, and the Cardinals went up 6-3 in the ninth on Breyvic Valera's two-run home run.
"I think the humidity has something to do with it, but, yeah, the ball was really flying tonight," Travelers Manager Bill Richardson said, referring to 41-percent humidity and a gametime temperature of 86 degrees.
The Travs scored one in the bottom of the ninth when shortstop Eric Stamets drove in pinch runner Mike Fish with a groundout to second base to cut the Cardinals lead to 6-4.
Ohlman put Springfield ahead 1-0 with his seventh home run, easily clearing the left-field wall in the top of the first inning.
Travs catcher Anthony Bemboom answered in the second inning with a two-run home run to right, his third of the season, to put the Travs ahead 2-1. It was the 15th home run in June for the Travs, who 14 home runs total through the season's first two months.
The Cardinals tied the game at 2-2 in the third when Travs starter Chris Ellis walked four consecutive batters with two outs to score Ohlman.
Cardinals center fielder Charlie Tilson hit his third home run, his second in as many days, to right field in the fourth to make it 3-2. Ellis was lifted midway through the inning after walking his seventh batter.
Richardson said Ellis battled, "but he just didn't have his best stuff. It's important for his development for him to have to work through some of that, but you hate to have to watch him go through that."
The Travelers made 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth when second baseman Sherman Johnson reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a balk. Drew Maggi's single scored Johnson to tie the game.
Travelers reliever Chris O'Grady, a Texas League All-Star with a 2.05 ERA in 26 appearances, was promoted to Class AAA Salt Lake after the game.
Sports on 06/29/2015