The Springfield Cardinals rebounded in a big way on Saturday night after a tough loss on Friday, beating the first-place Arkansas Travelers by a final score of 8-4 at Ray Winder Field in Little Rock.

Rick Ankiel’s first homer as a Springfield Cardinal helped starting pitcher Oscar Alvarez, who was just recalled from Palm Beach of the Florida State League, gain a win in his return to the Springfield roster.

Ankiel’s three-run homer, a drive to right-center which cleared the 55-foot chain-link fence, broke open a close game, giving the Cards a 7-3 advantage in the sixth inning.  Ankiel finished the night with his first two-hit game (2-5) as a Cardinal, finishing the series 4-12 with a homer and five RBIs.

The Cards took an early lead against 2004 Golden Spikes Winner and Travs starter Jered Weaver.  Aaron Herr took Weaver deep with two outs in the first, a solo shot for his team-leading 19th of the year.  Weaver walked the next three hitters to load the bases.  Kevin Estrada then ripped a clutch two-run, two-out single, giving the Cards a 3-0 lead.

Oscar Alvarez struggled a bit in the first inning, surrendering four hits, but allowing just one run.  Mike Napoli’s sac fly to center field, plated a Travs run, making it 3-1.

The Cards got that run back in the third, as Cody Haerther doubled with two outs, then scored on another Kevin Estrada single.  The second of three hits for Estrada on the night, gave the Cardinals a 4-1 lead.

Mike Napoli’s league-leading 23rd homer of the year, a two-run shot in the third, tightened things up at 4-3.

Alvarez (6-2) would settle down though, retiring seven of the last eight hitters he faced.  He worked a total of five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits.  Alvarez was added to the Springfield roster on Saturday morning, as Jeremy Cummings, who was originally slated to start Saturday, was promoted to Triple-A Memphis. 

The stage would be set for Ankiel’s homer in the sixth, as Jered Weaver (1-1) was removed in favor of reliever Aaron Pullin.  Pullin walked Dan Moylan to open the inning.  Cards shortstop Brendan Ryan would then try to sacrifice Moylan to second base, but on the play Arkansas catcher Mike Napoli’s throw to second was not in time, allowing both runners to be safe.  One out later, Ankiel crushed his 12th homer of the year, but first with Springfield, making it 7-3. 

The Cards added to their lead in the seventh, as Moylan doubled home Estrada, giving the Cards an 8-3 lead.

Andy Cavazos worked two scoreless innings of relief, then turned it over to Joe Nelson who finished it off.  Nelson surrendered a solo shot to Reggie Willits to open the eighth, but retired the next six hitters he faced.

The Cardinals end a two-game skid with the win and improve to 18-24 in the second half, 5.5 games back of East Division-leading Arkansas.  The Cardinals will take a day off on Sunday, then return to action in Frisco on Monday night.  Jordan Pals (5-9) will take the mound for the Redbirds in the opening game of the three-game set against the RoughRiders.  Game time from Frisco on Monday night is 7:05pm.