SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI – The Arkansas Travelers have been solid at keeping their opponents in the ballpark throughout the season. Thursday night was the exception to the rule as the Springfield Cardinals whacked three home runs en route to a 7-5 victory over the Travs to split the four-game series between division opponents. Daniel Descalso hit a three-run homer (7), the biggest hit of a five-run fifth inning put together by the Cardinals against Travs right hander Tim Kiely (L, 1-1). The Travs made up four runs of a 7-1 deficit, but Cards left hander Sam Freeman (Sv, 1) slammed the door with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
 
Right fielder Val Majewski broke out of a 1-for-22 slump with three base hits to lead the Travs’ 12-hit attack, but they also stranded six runners in scoring position and made three outs on the bases.
 
After pitching a complete game against the Cardinals last Monday in a 7-2 win, Kiely lasted just 4.2 innings on Thursday surrendering seven runs on eight base hits. Springfield starter Brandon Dickson (W, 5-4) was tagged with five runs (three earned) over six innings.
 
The Travs came out of the gate quickly as Peter Bourjos lined the third pitch of the night off the centerfield fence for his league-leading ninth triple. Hainley Statia singled him in with a line drive through the shortstop’s hole then took third base when Hank Conger doubled to the right-field corner. With the pressure on, Brandon Dickson was able to keep the damage to a minimum beginning with a strikeout of Mark Trumbo and a bouncer to third by Wil Ortiz. Nate Sutton struck out to end the inning with a 1-0 Travs lead.
 
Springfield third baseman Tony Cruz tied the game by smacking a two-out home run (4) to right field on a first-pitch fastball from Kiely.
 
The very next innings the Cardinals got a leadoff double from catcher Nick Derba, only his third hit in 29 at-bats since joining Springfield. He was forced at second on a fielder’s choice hit by Daryl Jones, but Pete Kozma followed with a rocket to center for an RBI double that put the Cardinals up 2-1.
 
Kiely struck out the side in the fourth inning on just ten pitches, but found no such success in the fifth allowing five runs before being pulled with two outs. Antone Dejesus beat a slow grounder to third with one out for a single and advanced to second when Kiely walked Derba on four pitches. A smash by Jones was fielded by Mark Trumbo who threw to second to force Derba, but Kozma followed with an RBI single to center plating Dejesus.  Facing Descalso, Kiely got ahead 1-2 but served up a three-run homer to right field. Steven Hill followed that with a blast over the right field fence for a 7-1 lead and Kiely was pulled in favor of right hander Amalio Diaz.
 
The Travs had trouble solving Dickson from the second through the sixth inning managing no runs on three base hits in those five innings. However Dickson faltered issuing a leadoff walk to Sutton in the seventh. Majewski lined a single and Branden Dickson’s line drive was dropped by Mark Hamilton behind first base for an error that loaded the bases with no outs. Coby Smith drove a single past second base to drive in two runs to knock Dickson from the game and the Cards brought in right hander Marco Gonzalez. Trailing 7-3, the Travs got another RBI single from Statia to drive in Florence and move Smith to third base. Conger hit a deep fly ball to center to score Smith, but the Antone Dejesus and Kozma pegged Statia who tried to advance to second base to end the inning with the Cardinals on top 7-5.
 
The Travs got a single from Ortiz in the eighth inning with one out and Freeman was summoned from the bullpen to strike out Sutton. Majewski followed with his third single of the night placing the
tying run on base but Freeman struck out Florence to end the inning.
 
Time of game was 2:45 and the paid attendance numbered 5,301.
 
The Travs head to Springdale to battle the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in a four-game series beginning Friday night. Arkansas sends right hander Jordan Walden (1-4, 4.12) to the mound against righty Matt Kniginyzky (2-6, 6.30). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

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