Cardinals Take Third Straight Win, 4-3, in NW Arkansas
July 25, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
Springdale, AR - The Springfield Cardinals took their third straight game with a 4-3 win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 4,907 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday night. CF Charlie Tilson, in just his third Double-A game, helped lead the lineup with a 3-for-5 night, including two doubles and two RBIs.
The Cardinals (14-20, 48-56) seized the early advantage against RHP Andy Ferguson (L, 7-9) in the top of the first inning. Tilson dealt his first blow with a leadoff double to start the game, before racing to third on a sacrifice bunt from LF Mike O'Neill. RF James Ramsey then placed a perfect bunt inside the third base line, bringing in Tilson from third with an RBI single for the game's first run. Ramsey promptly swiped second base, taking third next on a groundout by 1B Curt Smith. After a walk drawn by C Cody Stanley, 2B Breyvic Valera sliced a two-out RBI single to left-center, scoring Ramsey to make it 2-0.
RHP Mike Mayers (W, 2-4) kept the early lead intact through a pair of quick scoreless frames, before the Naturals (16-18, 41-63) got on the board in the bottom of the third. With one down, CF Ethan Chapman swung himself on with a double, coming in one out later on an RBI single by SS Orlando Calixte to slice the Cardinals lead to 2-1.
Northwest Arkansas completed the comeback with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. After 3B Cheslor Cuthbert led off with a double, 1B Max Ramirez drove an RBI triple into the right field corner to bring Cuthbert home. Mayers battled back with a pair of groundouts with Ramirez staying at third, but LF Justin Trapp struck with a two-out RBI single to center field, swinging the Naturals into the 4-3 lead.
Springfield didn't stay down for long, catapulting back in front in the top of the sixth inning. With one away, 3B Patrick Wisdom worked a walk to reach base. SS Alex Mejia followed with a single, before Tilson brought in both runners with a go-ahead, two-run double to left-center field. In just his third game with Springfield, Tilson's fourth and fifth RBIs on the season leapfrogged the Cardinals into the 4-3 lead.
Mayers came back out for the bottom of the sixth and retired the first two outs in the inning. After Trapp reached on an error to extend the frame, LHP Ryan Sherriff took over on the mound and quickly induced the final out in the inning.
Sherriff logged the first out in the eighth, before 1.1 scoreless innings from RHP Jeremy Berg. With one on and two down in the bottom of the eighth inning, RHP Seth Blair (S, 1) started his relief outing. The right-hander dealt 1.1 scoreless frames to close the 4-3 win for the Cardinals with his first-career save.
• Discuss this story on the Texas League message board...
Texas League Stories from July 25, 2014
- Casteel Is the Heel in Tulsa's 5-2 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Even Series with 4-1 Win on Friday - Springfield Cardinals
- Casteel and Castillo Lead Tulsa over Arkansas - Tulsa Drillers
- Wise Hitting Sends Frisco to Victory - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Ground Cardinals to Even Series - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- San Antonio Missions Game Notes: July 25 at Frisco (7:05 PM CST) - San Antonio Missions
- Missions Slam Riders 8-3 - San Antonio Missions
- 'Hounds Hang Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Bandy Doubles Game Winner in Eleventh Inning - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Take Third Straight Win, 4-3, in NW Arkansas - Springfield Cardinals
- Northwest Arkansas Drops One-Run Contest in Opener - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Springfield Cardinals Stories
- Five-Run Eighth Sinks Cards in Amarillo
- Springfield Back in Win Column After Strong Showing Wednesday
- Cardinals Historic Nine-Game Win Streak Ends on Tuesday in Amarillo
- Springfield Sets Franchise Record with Ninth Straight Win
- Birds Match Franchise Record with Eighth Straight Win