TL1 Springfield Cardinals

Cardinals Beat Drillers 7-3

Published on September 1, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Tulsa, OK - The Cardinals were in a unique position going into Thursday night's game against the Drillers; play spoilers. But they would have to do it without three of their top offensive weapons, Matt Adams, Ryan Jackson and Zack Cox who were not in the starting line-up.

Tulsa came in tied for the top spot in the North Division with NW Arkansas and Springfield had a chance to not only snap their nine-game winning streak, but knock them out of first place as well.

The Cardinals sent righty Joe Kelly, who has won two straight starts, to the mound against former first round pick, lefty Christian Friedrich.

It took Springfield seven innings to get a hit on Wednesday. Thursday was a different story as the Redbirds plated two runs on four hits in the first innings. Jose Garcia and Charlie Cutler started it off with singles. Friedrich then picked off Garcia at second, but threw wildly to third allowing Garcia to score and move Cutler to second. After a wild pitch and a line out, Chris Swauger singled up the middle to score Cutler to grab a 2-0 lead.

Tulsa would also score two runs in the 1st inning as Tommy Field singled with one out and Ben Paulsen hit a two-run homer to center field to tie the game 2-2.

The back and forth continued in the 2nd when Springfield got two more runs with two outs when Charlie Cutler tripled home Garcia and Donovan Solano doubled to right to regain the lead, 4-2.

The Drillers got a run back in the 3rd as Tommy Field singled with one out, Wilin Rosario singled with two away and Bronson Sardinha reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jose Garcia allowing Field to score making the score 4-3.

Springfield responded with three more runs against Friedrich with one out as Joe Kelly singled, Jose Garcia singled and Cutler blasted a three-run homer to right field putting the Cardinals in front 7-3 and knocking out the starter.

Kelly would finish the 6th inning allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits before being relieved by Jorge Rondon in the 7th. After struggling in his last few outings, Rondon walked just one batter en route to retiring the Drillers without surrendering a run.

Sam Freeman would pitch a scoreless 8th and Jeff Lyman a scoreless 9th to preserve the win for the Cardinals snapping their three game losing streak.

The Cardinals will conclude their four-game series with the Tulsa Drillers on Friday night. Springfield will send right hander Shelby Miller to the hill for the final time this season against righty Josh Sullivan of the Drillers in the finale.

Also, this morning the Cardinals launched the Like Mike campaign to celebrate Mike Shannon's 40 years in the broadcast booth and we could use your help.

For those of you on Facebook, please go to the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/baseballhall to vote to nominate Mike Shannon to receive the 2012 Ford C. Frick Award - the highest honor given to a baseball broadcaster. You may vote once a day for the entire month of September.

Be sure to check out www.cardinals.com/likemike. Fans can learn more about Mike Shannon and the Ford C. Frick Award, view galleries of photos, listen to some of Mike's most memorable calls, print a Like Mike flyer to show support and most importantly click the "vote now" button to be directed Hall of Fame's Facebook page to vote nominate Mike.

Springfield will return home Labor Day Weekend to put the finishing touches on the 2011 Regular season with a three-game series with the Arkansas Travelers. Saturday, our friends at Coca-Cola will be giving away collectors glasses for 2,500 fans. Great tickets are still available by visiting the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at springfieldcardinals.com or by calling (417) 863-2143.

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Texas League Stories from September 1, 2011


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