Travs top Cardinals, end 5-game skid

Wade Hinkle hit his first home run in almost a month and had an RBI single, and four Arkansas Travelers pitchers held the Springfield Cardinals in check while putting an end to a season-long losing streak Saturday night. Hinkle’s two-run home run in the second inning was his first since April 23 as the Travs defeated the Cardinals 5-2 at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. The victory ended a fivegame losing streak, and was Arkansas’ first victory in the sixth game of an eight-game road trip. Travs starter Kyle McGowin gave up his only run when Charlie Tilson doubled and scored on Alex Mejia’s double to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. McGowin held Springfield to just two hits after that while striking out 3 and walking 1 to earn his fourth victory. The Travs got to Cardinals starter Andrew Morales in the second when Hernandez walked, Hinkle hit his third home run of the year to give them a 2-1 lead, and Raywilly Gomez had an infield hit to third that Mejia threw away, allowing Anthony Bemboom to score, making it 3-1. In the third, the Travs loaded the bases with no outs when Sherman Johnson singled, Drew Maggi was hit by a pitch and Cal Towey walked. But they almost squandered the opportunity when Mejia fielded Hernandez’ grounder and threw out Johnson at home and Hinkle grounded to Breyvic Valera at second base to get Maggi at home. Bemboom managed to hit a ball through the infield to score Towey and give the Travs a 4-1 lead. The Travs’ last run came in the fifth when Hinkle’s single scored Maggi. Chris O’Grady and Kurt Spomer held the Cardinals hitless over three innings. Trevor Gott gave up three hits and one run in the ninth, but with the tying run at the plate Gott struck out Jonathan Rodriguez.