Travelers top Cardinals, 6-1, on Friday

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Travelers (22-18, 65-43) struck for three runs in the first and never looked back, topping the Springfield Cardinals (20-20, 50-60), 6-1, on Friday night.

DECISIONS:
W: RHP Ljay Newsome (1-2)
L: RHP Johan Oviedo (5-5)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
-The Travelers came out swinging with three runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from DH Cal Raleigh and a two-run base hit by CF Luis Liberato.

-The Cardinals responded in the top of the second with a leadoff solo shot from C Brian O'Keefe, shaving the early deficit to 3-1.

-The Travs added late insurance with an RBI single from 3B Logan Taylor in the seventh, followed in the eighth by another RBI single from Taylor and an RBI double by SS Donnie Walton, accounting for the eventual 6-1 final score.

NOTABLES:
-RHP Johan Oviedo settled in after the tumultuous opening stanza, not allowing another run through his start and finishing with just the three runs on five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings. He retired 11 in a row from the final out of the second through the first out of the sixth.

-C Brian O'Keefe's blast marked his 10th home run this season. His career high for a single season is 15 home runs, set while with Low-A Peoria in 2017.

-RF Justin Toerner went 2x3 with a pair of singles and a walk.

-CF Dylan Carlson went 2x4 with two base hits.

WHAT'S ON DECK:
-The Cardinals continue the trip in Arkansas on Saturday at 6:10pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7 FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Harbell's Grill and Sports Bar Pregame Show.