Cardinals take two of three at home against Travelers
SPRINGFIELD, MO. — Victor Roache hit a pair of two-run home runs and the Springfield Cardinals rallied late for an 8-4 win over the Arkansas Travelers on Monday.
The Cardinals (13-9) took the series, 3-1.
Both of Roache’s home runs gave the Cards the lead. The first broke a scoreless tie and the second came in the seventh inning to break a 4-4 deadlock.
Springfield pushed its lead to four runs entering the ninth inning, but the Travelers (11-11) threatened before the game ended in strange fashion.
Arkansas loaded the bases with no one out when designated hitter Chuck Taylor hit a low line drive toward the second baseman. Taylor stopped running and center fielder Braden Bishop held up at first base, but third baseman Yonathan Mendoza broke from second and catcher Joe DeCarlo broke from third as they were unsure the ball had been caught.
A throw to second base was ruled an out before another throw was made to first. The umpires ruled the ball was caught, Mendoza was doubled off at second and DeCarlo’s run counted with Bishop remaining at first base.
The Cardinals then appealed to third base, where DeCarlo was ruled out for leaving the base early. The confusion resulted in a game-ending triple play.
Arkansas scored three times in the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead, capped by a solo home run from first baseman Joey Curletta. Mendoza hit a two-out RBI double in the sixth inning to make the score 4-2.
Springfield scored four runs off Spencer Herrmann (1-2) in the seventh inning. The home team added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Curletta finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Mendoza was 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, a run and an RBI. Taylor was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Anthony Misiewicz received a no-decision, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out one, walked four and allowed a home run.
Arkansas picked up its only win of the series, 12-4, on Sunday afternoon as DeCarlo hit a pair of key home runs, Curletta hit a grand slam and Chase De Jong picked up the win.
DeCarlo was 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. It was the fourth multi-home run game of his career.
De Jong (2-1) worked into the seventh inning for the third consecutive start. At one point, he retired 11 consecutive Springfield batters. He finished with only three runs allowed on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The win ended a three-game slide for the Travelers. The Cardinals saw their five-game winning streak and an eight-game home winning streak end.
Taylor was 2-for-5 with two runs. Shortstop Chris Mariscal was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.
Arkansas was stymied in the first two games on Saturday and Friday. Springfield scored four runs in the seventh inning of a 6-1 victory on Saturday.
Both teams struggled with runners in scoring position. Arkansas was 0-for-7, stranding 10 runners, and the Springfield was 1-for-7.
Two home runs accounted for four of the Cardinals’ runs. The other two scored on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.
Mendoza played second base and hit 2-for-3 with a walk and a double. Third baseman Seth Mejias-Break was 1-for-4 with a solo home run.
Andrew Moore (1-1) allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk in six innings.
The Cardinals hit three home runs and Mike O’Reilly (1-0) shut down the Traveler offense in his Double-A debut as the Cardinals won the series opener, 6-2. He allowed only one unearned run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Curletta, Bishop and DeCarlo each had a pair of hits. Starter Nathan Bannister (1-1) allowed five earned runs and six total on 11 hits in five innings. Reliever Matt Tenuta pitched two innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters.
The Travelers continue their road trip with the first of four in Tulsa tonight against the first-place Drillers (14-9). Righty Johendi Jiminian (1-1, 2.49) is scheduled to go to the mound for Arkansas against righty Frank Duncan (0-0, 2.25).