Cardinals Fall to Naturals 6-5
Published on May 13, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
Springdale, AR - Riding the left arm of Tyler Lyons and the bat of Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals snapped their 10-game road losing streak with a 3-2 win on Saturday. A day later, Springfield had a chance to split their four-game series with the Naturals with a victory on Mother's Day.
The Cardinals sent right Scott Gorgen to the mound in search of his first win of the season and first since May of 2010. NW Arkansas countered with lefty Justin Marks.
Springfield jumped out in front in the first inning plating a run thanks to a two-out RBI single by Chris Swauger to grab a quick 1-0 lead.
The Naturals; however, would answer with two run of their own on a bloop RBI single by Johnny Whittleman and a sacrifice fly by Mario Lisson to gain a 2-1 advantage. With Sharlon Schoop at the plate, a steady rain came and delayed the game for 35 minutes. When play resumed, Gorgen struck out Schoop to end the inning.
In the 2nd, the Cardinals mounted a two-out rally as Adam Melker reached on an infield single, Jose Garcia battled for a walk and Jermaine Curtis delivered an RBI single to left to tie the game 2-2.
NW Arkansas responded again plating a run thanks to a lead-off walk, a sacrifice bunt and a bloop RBI single by Julio Rodriguez to regain the lead, 3-2. Yem Prades followed with another bloop hit to left before Christian Colon struck out. With two outs and Wil Myers ahead in the count 1-0, the rain came again delaying the game for another 44 minutes. Kevin Thomas would replace Gorgen on the mound and allowed an RBI double to put the Naturals up 4-2. He came back to strike out Whittleman to end the inning.
Andrew Dobies took over on the mound to begin the third inning for the Naturals and held the Cardinals scoreless for the next two frames.
In the 4th, the Naturals plated another two-out run as Wil Myers laced another RBI double to left center to score Julio Rodriguez, who led off the inning with a walk, to give NW Arkansas a 5-2 lead.
The Cardinals were held off the scoreboard until the 6th when they loaded the bases on a single and two walks with no out to set up a sure run scoring inning. But after Adam Melker struck out, Jose Garcia bounced to short for a fielder's choice and was able to beat a return throw back to first base to score a run. With runners on the corners and two outs, Jermaine Curtis struck out to end the inning, but Springfield was within two runs, 5-3.
Heading into the 8th, the Naturals went to closer Kendal Volz and the Cardinals had the first three batters reach on a walk, a single and throwing error by Volz on an attempt to get the lead runner at third on a bunt. With the bases loaded, Kolten Wong hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Xavier Scruggs and moving Greg Garcia to third. With runners on the corners, Jose Garcia singled to shortstop scoring Greg Garcia to tie the game 5-5. Jermaine Curtis drew a walk to load the bases for Oscar Taveras with only one out, but the league leader in RBIs bounced into an inning ending double play to end the threat.
The Naturals took some of that momentum gained by getting Taveras to end the top of the inning as Sharlon Schoop hit a solo homer off of Sam Freeman to lead-off the bottom of the 8th to regain a 6-5 lead.
Springfield got the tying run to second after Kyle Conley singled and moved to second on a wild pitch, but Chris Swauger lined into a double play and Xavier Scruggs struck out to end the game.
The Redbirds will continue their eight-game road trip and head east to Little Rock to take on the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park Monday night at 7:10pm. John Gast will start for Springfield against AJ Schugel of the Travs.
Springfield will return home May 18th for a quick four game series against the Tulsa Drillers. Every Friday is a Fireworks Night thanks to AM Pyrotechnics. Also the Missouri Lottery will be giving away $2,000 worth of lottery tickets during their Baseball Bingo promotion . Great tickets are still available, so visit the Hammons Field Ticket Office, go online at springfieldcardinals.com or by call (417) 863-2143.
Texas League Stories from May 13, 2012
- Missions Defeat Midland 7-4, Sweep Series - San Antonio Missions
- Schoop's Shot Gives Naturals Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Fall to Naturals 6-5 - Springfield Cardinals
- Schmidt Stays Sharp vs. Travs - Tulsa Drillers
- Schmidt Shuts Down Travs as Tulsa Takes Series - Arkansas Travelers
- Seventh Inning Separation - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Score Four in Ninth to Beat Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- 12's a Charm - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Rally for Wild Victory - Tulsa Drillers
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