Cardinals Beat Midland 6-3
Published on July 3, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
Midland, TX - Celebrating Independence Weekend in Midland has been common place for the Springfield Cardinals the last two seasons and they looked to get their series with the RockHounds off on the right fott with a win.
The Cardinals sent All-Star Michael Blazek to the mound in his first start in nine days and in search of his league leading 9th win. Against him was veteran left hander Polin Trinidad who was making his first start against Springfield this season.
Both teams exchanged zeros over the first three and a half innings before Midland struck first in the bottom of the 4th. After a one out walk and a single from Stephen Parker, Matt Sulentic lined a single to right to score the first run of the game. Jeremy Barfield followed with a fielder's choice ground out to put runners on the corners for Mitch Canham who delivered a two-out RBI single to right to put Midland in front 2-0.
Springfield would answer right back in the 5th as Chris Swauger belted a lead off solo homer to right field to cut the deficit in half. Audry Perez then walked and Charlie Cutler singled to right before D'Marcus Ingram laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Jermaine Curtis followed with an RBI single to tie the game 2-2 and Jose Garcia bounced into an RBI fielder's choice scoring Cutler to give the Cardinals their first lead, 3-2.
Blazek battled his control throughout his start and the 5th was no exception as the righty walked the leadoff batter. After a groundout moved the runner to second, Michael Spina singled to shallow right to put runners on the corners. Blazek would walk Adam Heether to load the bases before striking out Stephen Parker for the second out of the inning. Matt Sulentic would come up with another RBI single to score one, but right fielder Alex Castellanos gunned down Spina at the plate to keep the game tied 3-3. Blazek would finish his night pitching five innings allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
Castellanos came to the plate the very next inning and belted a solo home run to right center field, his 16th of the season, to put the Cardinals ahead for good 4-3. Springfield added single runs in the 7th and 9th innings on RBI singles from Matt Adams to grab a 6-3 advantage. Adams finished the night 3-for-5 with two RBI.
The Cardinals bullpen, which has been troublesome at times this year, was brilliant Sunday night. The combination of Brett Zawacki, Nick Greenwood and Jorge Rondon would throw the final four innings allowing no runs on just two hits. Rondon picked up his 4th save and Blazek his 9th win of the year.
Springfield will continue their three-game series with the RockHounds Monday night at 6:30pm. Springfield will send right hander Kevin Thomas to the mound against righty and former Springfield Cardinal Gary Daley of the RockHounds.
The Cardinals will return home to Hammons Field Thursday, July 7th for a six-game homestand against the Frisco RoughRiders and Midland RockHounds. Thursday, as always, will be "Buck a Brat" Night featuring $1 Johnsonville Bratwurst all night long! Great tickets are still available by visiting the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at springfieldcardinals.com or by calling (417) 863-2143.
Texas League Stories from July 3, 2011
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- Stoneburner, 'Riders Rally to Win 7-6 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks' Slams Sink Naturals Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Beat Midland 6-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Corpus Christi Hooks Game Notes - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Former Natural Crow named as AL All-Star - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Aim to Continue Mastery of Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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