Travelers can’t cool off Cardinals’ bats

The Arkansas Travelers led 1- 0 lead after a half- inning Tuesday, but the Springfield Cardinals responded with two runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth on the way to a 6- 3 victory in front of an announced crowd of 4,719 at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo.

Designated hitter Raywilly Gomez gave the Travs the early lead when he singled with one out in the top of the first inning and scored on a single by Brian Hernandez. The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the second inning with a two- run home run by right fielder David Washington, his 15th of the season, to give Springfield a 2- 1 lead.

Arkansas tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. Hernandez doubled to right field to start the inning, then scored on Wade Hinkle’s double to left- center field. Hernandez finished 3 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored, while Hinkle was 2 for 4 with 1 RBI.

Springfield took the lead for

good in the bottom of the fourth. First baseman Jonathan Rodriguez walked to start the inning and scored when Bruce Caldwell doubled to center field. After Mike Ohlman grounded out, Caldwell scored on a sacrifice fly by Washington for a 4- 2 lead.

The Travelers cut into the lead in the top of the fifth. Center fielder Chad Hinshaw, who finished 4 for 5, hit a one- out double to right- center field and stole third base. Hinshaw scored on Blake Gailen’s groundout to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 4- 3.

The Cardinals scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Caldwell, who finished 2 for 4, hit a one- out double in the sixth inning and scored on Ohlman’s single to make it 5- 3. Center fielder Charlie Tilson tripled in the seventh inning and scored on Mike O’Neill’s single for a 6- 3 lead.

Arkansas starter Kyle McGowin ( 8- 9) took the loss after allowing 5 earned runs on 6 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts in 52/ innings. Springfield’s Robby Rowland ( 1- 2) earned his first victory in relief, allowing 1 hit in 12/ innings.