TRAVELERS 4, CARDINALS 2
Albert Suarez earned his 10th victory of the season and the Arkansas Travelers beat the Springfield Cardinals 4-2 on Wednesday night at Hammonds Field in Springfield, Mo.
Suarez (10-9) allowed 2 hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out 2 and walking 4 in 98 pitches. His only mistake was a two-run home run to Nick Martini in the fourth inning.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS AT SPRINGFIELD
WHEN 7:10 p.m. Central
WHERE Hammonds Field, Springfield, Mo.
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas
WEBSITE travs.com
PITCHERS Travelers: Christopher Ellis (RHP, 7-3, 3.41 ERA). Cardinals: TBA
LOOKING AHEAD
TODAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY NW Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
SUNDAY NW Arkansas, 2:10 p.m.
MONDAY NW Arkansas, 1:10 p.m.
The Travs extended their lead in the Texas League North Division over the Cardinals to two games with Wednesday's victory. Their magic number to clinch the North's second-half title is four games. The winner of the North in the second half will play Northwest Arkansas in the Texas League playoffs next week.
Greg Mahle pitched 1 2/3 innings and earned his 14th save of the season for the Travs.
Blake Gailen hit a two-run home run, his 10th of the season, in the third inning off Springfield starter Andrew Morales.
Chad Hinshaw finished 2 for 3 with a double. Raywilly Gomez was 2 for 4 as Arkansas outhit Springfield 7-4.
Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Sherman Johnson scored on a Morales' wild pitch. Later in the inning, Gailen's home run made it 3-0.
Martini's home run off Suarez cut the lead to 3-2.
The Travs got an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning to extend the lead to 4-2. Hinshaw singled to right field to score Ruben Sosa.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Springfield tried to rally against Mahle. Jonathan Rodriguez singled with one out. Bruce Caldwell flied out for the second out. Rodriguez advanced to second on defensive indifference, but Mike Ohlman grounded out to end the game.
Morales (4-8) allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
DRILLERS 5, NATURALS 2
Brandon Dixon went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run to lead the Tulsa Drillers to a victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.
Jarek Cunningham had two hits, including a home run, for the Drillers.
Northwest Arkansas was led offensively by Lane Adams, who had two hits. Alex Liddi had an RBI double.
Kyle Zimmer (2-5) struggled for the Naturals, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out two and had no walks.
Sports on 09/03/2015