Travs Head Into All-Star Break on a Shutout Win

Springfield, MO-The Arkansas Travelers headed into the Texas League All-Star Break with a flourish as they avoided a sweep on Sunday with a 7-0 shutout of the Springfield Cardinals.
               Tyler Herb earned his sixth win of the season pitching six scoreless innings and working around four hits and three walks while striking out a pair. Herb was only really threatened in his last inning when the Cards loaded the bases with no one out but Tyler snared a sharp line drive off the bat of Bruce Caldwell and doubled a runner off first to turn the inning around. Darin Gillies (two innings) and Thyago Vieira combined to finish off the fourth shutout of the season for Arkansas.
               Meanwhile, the offense which had struggled to get clutch hits lately broke out for seven runs on 10 hits. Dario Pizzano broke the ice in the third inning with a two out infield single to score the opening run. Kyle Waldrop then came up and blasted a 3-run homer to right field giving the Travs the luxury of a multi-run lead. They would add on in the next inning as Joey Wong came through with a two strike, two out RBI hit. The final two runs scored in the sixth inning with Wong's bases loaded walk forcing one in and Chuck Taylor's sacrifice fly knocking home the other.
               Ian Miller and Nelson Ward both led the Travelers with three hit days as Miller boosted his league leading batting average to .339. Herb improved his record to 6-4 with the victory while Cardinal starter Chris Ellis took the loss and fell to 0-3.
               The Travs will now pause for the All-Star Break with Tuesday night's All-Star game in Frisco, Texas involving seven Traveler players on the North Division squad before the regular season schedule resumes on Thursday. Arkansas will welcome the South Division first half champion San Antonio Missions to Dickey-Stephens Park for a 7:10 first pitch on Club DSP Theme Night and it is a Moix RV Match 6 RV Giveaway. Righty Justin DeFratus (2-3, 5.72) is the Travs' projected starter with righty Michael Kelly (7-2, 2.98) slated to pitch for the Missions. The game will also be broadcast on the Sports Animal 920, the First Pitch App, TuneIn radio and milb.tv.