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Springfield Cardinals

Rodriguez Swings Cards to 8-5 Win in 12 Innings

August 22, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Springdale, AR - 1B Jonathan Rodriguez belted a go-ahead, three-run home run in the top of the 12th inning, lifting the Springfield Cardinals to the 8-5 win in extra frames against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 4,712 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday night. With the win, the Cardinals have won five games in a row, 11 of their last 14 and five consecutive series.

The Cardinals (28-30, 62-66) jumped in front right away, striking for an early run against RHP Matt Murray in the top of the first. Leading off the game, CF Charlie Tilson reached base safely on a throwing error charged to 2B Justin Trapp. RF Rafael Ortega singled Tilson to third base, before DH Cody Stanley brought him home with an RBI single for the 1-0 advantage.

Springfield RHP Sam Gaviglio kept the lead intact through his first three scoreless innings, but the Naturals (26-32, 51-77) rallied in the fourth. SS Orlando Calixte doubled to start the inning, followed by a walk from 3B Hunter Dozier. RF Jorge Bonifacio got the Naturals on the board with an RBI single, before Gaviglio battled back with a strikeout and a groundout. However, 2B Justin Trapp floated a two-run single to shallow center field, bringing in both runners for the 3-1 advantage.

Both Gaviglio and Murray dealt the remainder of their six-inning starts in scoreless fashion, before the Cardinals rallied against RHP Ali Williams in the top of the seventh. SS Alex Mejia and LF David Popkins sparked the bats with consecutive singles to start the stanza. One out later, 2B Greg Miclat scorched an RBI double inside the left field line, bringing in Mejia and moving Popkins to third. C Travis Tartamella tied the game with a run-scoring grounder to short, enabling Popkins to dart home from third base. Miclat moved to third on the Tartamella grounder, before streaking home when Williams uncorked a wild pitch, lifting the Cardinals back in front, 4-3.

The Naturals, though, dealt the next blow in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one on and one down, 1B Mark Threlkeld knocked a pinch-hit, two-run homer to left field, leapfrogging the Naturals back in front, 5-4.

Springfield refused to give in, however, evening the score in the top of the ninth inning. Mejia started the inning with a single, before being replaced on the bases by pinch-runner 2B Breyvic Valera. After a sacrifice bunt from Popkins moved Valera to second, 3B Patrick Wisdom lined a base hit to center field. Valera tried to score on the single, but CF Lane Adams dealt a perfect throw home that was just in time to retire Valera at the plate and keep the Naturals ahead. With Wisdom on at second base and two down, Miclat pulled an RBI single through the right side of the infield, bringing Wisdom in from second base to tie the game at 5-5.

With one on and one down in the bottom of the ninth inning, RHP Jeremy Berg (W, 2-0) took over on the mound and navigated through the final two outs in the ninth in scoreless fashion, forcing extra frames.

Berg kept it tied with scoreless stanzas in the 10th and 11th as well, before Springfield reclaimed the lead in the top of the 12th. Naturals LHP Tripp Davis (L, 0-1) retired the first two outs to begin the 12th, but Ortega kept the inning alive with a single. Stanley followed Ortega's knock with a walk, and then Rodriguez demolished a three-run home run over the center field fence, driving the ball more than 400 feet, to lift the Cardinals back in front, 8-5.

Berg re-toed the rubber for the bottom of the 12th, dealing a three-batter, scoreless frame to close the 8-5 win for the Cardinals in 12 innings.

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