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TL1 Springfield Cardinals

Cardinals Battle Back for 8-6 Win in Midland

May 30, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Midland, TX - The Springfield Cardinals scored five runs in the sixth and seventh innings, coming from behind for the 8-6 win against the Midland RockHounds before 4,459 fans at Security Bank Ballpark on Friday night.

The Cardinals (16-32) jumped on RHP Tim Atherton right out of the gates, striking for three runs in the top of the first inning. CF Charlie Tilson led off with a double inside the left field line, before a base hit from RF Jeremy Hazelbaker put runners at the corners one out later. 1B Jonathan Rodriguez cracked the scoreless tie with an RBI single to center field, plating Tilson for the 1-0 lead. After LF Nick Martini worked a walk to load the bases, Atherton induced a pop out for the frame's second out. C Michael Ohlman, though, pulled a two-out, two-run double to bring in Hazelbaker and Rodriguez for the 3-0 lead.

Midland (25-23) wasted no time responding, striking for four runs in the bottom of the first against RHP Andrew Morales. Morales alternated a pair of walks with a pair of outs, setting up a two-on, two-out opportunity for DH Josh Whitaker. With one swing, Whitaker squared the score with a three-run homer to left field. 1B Renato Nunez then reached on an error, followed by a single from LF Jaycob Brugman. C Carson Blair brought Nunez home with a go-ahead RBI single, lifting the Hounds ahead, 4-3.

Both hurlers tossed a scoreless second, but Midland stretched the lead in the bottom of the third. Morales started the inning with a strikeout, but Whitaker then struck with a single. A hit batter and a walk later, and the RockHounds had the bases loaded with only one out. Blair worked an RBI walk, forcing home Whitaker, before an RBI base hit from 3B Ryon Healy opened the lead to three runs and led to RHP Chris Thomas taking over on the mound. Thomas navigated the Cardinals out of the bases-loaded jam with back-to-back strikeouts, getting the Cardinals out of the third only trailing 6-3.

Thomas went on to retire eight straight RockHounds through a perfect 2.2-inning outing, slowing the RockHounds offense. After striking out four of the first five batters he retired, Thomas capped his outing with a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, before Springfield's bats got going again.

With Atherton still on the mound, the Cardinals rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Martini sparked the comeback with a leadoff single. After a strikeout, Ohlman placed an infield single to the left side that led to a throwing error on SS Chad Pinder, enabling Martini to get to third on the play. 3B Patrick Wisdom then grounded an RBI single back up the middle, plating Martini and chasing Atherton from the hill. With RHP Andres Avila (L, 0-1) on the mound, 2B Breyvic Valera skied an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Ohlman from third base to bring the Cardinals within one run. Tilson followed with an RBI single, bringing in Wisdom from second base to tie the game, 6-6.

RHP Jordan Swagerty (W, 2-1) continued the great relief for Springfield, dealing a three-up, three-down bottom of the sixth to keep the tie intact.

The Cardinals then swung out of the tie in the top of the seventh inning. Hazelbaker placed a bunt single to get on, before tagging and moving to second on a Rodriguez fly out to center field. Martini then laced a go-ahead RBI single to center field, plating Hazelbaker from second for the 7-6 advantage. DH Anthony Garcia struck next with a screaming double to left field, putting runners at second and third with only one away. The RockHounds elected to intentionally walk Ohlman and brought in RHP Tucker Healy to pitch to Wisdom with the bases loaded. On a foul ball by Wisdom, Midland C Carson Blair was called on catcher's interference, which awarded Wisdom first base and advanced everyone ninety feet on the bases, forcing home Martini from third for the 8-6 lead.

Swagerty retired the first out in the bottom of the seventh before a walk led to RHP Ronnie Shaban entering the game. Shaban picked up right where Thomas and Swagerty had left off, registering five straight outs to keep the Cardinals in front through the bottom of the eighth.

With Springfield still leading by two runs, RHP Kyle Barraclough (S, 3) took over for the bottom of the ninth. After two quick groundouts, former Cardinals 2B Colin Walsh kept the RockHounds alive with a walk. RF Matt Olson followed with a double to put the two tying runs in scoring position, but Barraclough won the battle with a strikeout against Whitaker, closing the 8-6 win for Springfield with his third save.

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