McKinney Ks 11, Pitches Travs Past Cards

Springfield, MO—Ian McKinney fired seven shutout innings allowing just one hit pitching the Arkansas Travelers to a 4-1 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Thursday night at Hammons Field. McKinney matched a season high with 11 strikeouts. The only hit against him came on the first batter of the sixth inning. The offense was shut down for the first five innings but Kyle Leahy but busted through with a pair of runs in the sixth inning and then late homers by Connor Kopach and Keegan McGovern added to the lead.

Moments That Mattered

* David Sheaffer opened the sixth inning with a double and that began a stretch of four consecutive hitters reaching base for the Travs. Josh Morgan and Joe Rizzo came through with RBI hits in the inning.

* Michael Stryffeler retired the first two Cardinals hitters in the eighth inning but then issued two walks and saw a man reach on an error, scoring a run and bringing the tying run to the plate. But Stryffeler was able to get Nolan Gorman to ground out to end the inning.

Notable Travs Performances

* C Josh Morgan: 3-5, RBI

* LHP Ian McKinney: Win, 7 IP, H, 3 BB, 11 K

News and Notes

* Nick Duron returned from the injured list and pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

* Brian O’Keefe saw his hit streak end at eight games.

Up Next

Right-hander Penn Murfee (1-1, 5.64) starts for Arkansas on Friday night against lefty Tyler Pike (0-1, 24.55) as the Travs look for two straight. First pitch is set for 7:05 and the game will be broadcast on AM 920 the Sports Animal, the First Pitch App and milb.tv.