Kirby, Rodriguez, DeLoach Lead Travs to Win 

North Little Rock, AR—George Kirby pitched four shutout innings in his Double-A debut and the Arkansas Travelers defeated the Springfield Cardinals, 6-3 on Saturday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. Julio Rodriguez returned to the Traveler lineup after playing in the Olympics and went 2-4 with two runs scored. Kirby, working with a limited pitch count, retired the first seven batters of the night and surrendered only two hits and a hit batter while striking out four. Dayeison Arias fired two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to get the win out of the bullpen and Alejandro Requena worked a perfect ninth inning for his first save. Newport native Grant Black, making a spot start for Springfield, was the losing pitcher.

Moments That Mattered

* Jack Larsen and Julio Rodriguez walked and singled to open the bottom of the first. Larsen then scored on a wild pitch with Rodriguez moving to third. He then came home on a sacrifice fly from Josh Morgan for an early two-run lead.

* Zach DeLoach delivered the biggest blow of the night, a three-run home run into the right field corner with two out in the fifth inning.

Notable Travs Performances

* LF Zach DeLoach: 3-4, run, 2B, HR, 3 RBI

* RHP George Kirby: 4 IP, 2 H, 4 K

News and Notes

* Jordan Cowan made his first career appearance at first base.

* Requena got the save in his first game in relief this year.

Up Next

Arkansas goes for the series win on Sunday with right-hander Levi Stoudt (6-1, 3.52 in A+) getting the start. It is an Operation Military Appreciation Day, Family Sunday and kids get to run the bases after the game. First pitch is at 2:10. The game will be broadcast on AM 920 the Sports Animal, the First Pitch App and milb.tv.