[rink23]

Record: 81-76, 3rd (Tied/w. Quad City), 3 GB Springfield and Des Moines
Nate Traylor hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to help spur Springfield to a 3-1 win over St. Louis at Olympic Stadium (Montreal).
The loss leaves the River Walkers tied with Quad City for in the National League South Division. Springfield and Des Moines are tied for first, three games ahead of the Thunder and River Walkers.
Wander Samuel Franco reached bases ahead of Traylor with a one-out triple off St. Louis starter Steven Brault.
Traylor then spanked the first pitch he saw 407 feet over the wall in right-center field.
The Prairie Fighters pushed their lead to 3-0 in the seventh when Odubel Herrera doubled off Brault and scored on a Ryan Mountcastle single.
The Walkers only run came in the eighth on an inside-the-park homer from Alan Dondero off Springfield reliever Gerson Moreno.
Fighters starter pitcher Steven Gingery (9-2) kept the Walkers off the board for his 6.1 innings on the mound. He allowed just four hits while striking out six and walking none.
Matt McConnell got the final out of the seventh inning.
Gerson Moreno handled the eighth inning.
The ninth belonged to Drew Steckenrider, who allowed a pair of hits before exiting with one out.
Ryan Schaller got George Valera to hit into a fielder's choice for the second out.
Dahiandy Johnson then grounded out to end it, as Schaller notched his first save.