Nogowski pushes Cardinals past Naturals

CARDINALS 3, NATURALS 1

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — John Nogowski hit a run-scoring single in the sixth inning, leading the Springfield Cardinals to a 3-1 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Tuesday.

Landon Beck got Donnie Dewees to ground out with a runner on second to end the game for his first save of the season.

The single by Nogowski, part of a two-run inning, gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead before Victor Roache hit an RBI triple later in the inning.

In the top of the second, NW Arkansas grabbed the lead on a triple by Anderson Miller that scored Jecksson Flores. Springfield answered in the fourth inning when Nogowski hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Ramon Urias.

Springfield right-hander Ryan Helsley (1-1) picked up a quality start and the win after allowing one run on just four hits over six innings. Opposing starter Zach Lovvorn (0-1) took the loss in the Texas League game after he allowed three runs on just three hits over 52/3 innings.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Joseph Odom hit a three-run, 377-foot home run beyond the left-field wall of Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock to give the Arkansas Travelers a 6-3 victory over the Tulsa Drillers on Tuesday afternoon.

It was the Travs’ fourth consecutive victory, and Arkansas (10-7) surpassed Tulsa (9-8) to take hold of first place in the Texas League North Division standings.

Travs’ pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters with no walks.

Right-hander Lindsey Caughel (1-1, 6.00 ERA) earned the victory after relieving starting lefty Anthony Misiewicz to start the sixth inning with the Travs down 1-0.

Right-handed reliever Matt Festa earned his second save of the season, closing the game in the top of the ninth with three strikeouts.

Drillers left fielder Jacob Scavuzzo hit a solo home run off Misiewicz in the top of the fifth, and first baseman Peter O’Brien hit a two-run double off Caughel in the seventh to give the Drillers a 3-0 lead.

Travs center fielder Andrew Aplin hit an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, then designated hitter Ryon Healy — who is on a rehab assignment from the Seattle Mariners — tied the game with a two-run single later in the inning.

Drillers right-hander Josh Sborz (2-1, 4.66) took the loss after giving up the home run to Odom in the eighth.

Also Tuesday, Travs Manager Daren Brown said center fielder Braden Bishop, who is the No. 5 prospect for the Seattle Mariners according to MLB.com, will be “OK” and will return to the lineup within the next few days.