Cardinals Defeat Drillers Saturday Night 6-3
June 11, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers came into Springfield for a four-game series with the Cardinals looking to build on their 1.5 game lead in the Texas League North Division. But the Cardinals had other plans as they defeated the Drillers 6-3 Saturday night at Hammons Field.
The two clubs wasted no time getting the scoring started as they both got on the scoreboard in the first.
Facing the St. Louis Cardinals #3 overall prospect in right-hander Luke Weaver, the Drillers scored their first run of the game two batters in when Willie Calhoun smashed a long home run over the right field fence to put Tulsa in front 1-0. It was Calhoun's team-leading eleventh home run of the year.
The Drillers had a chance to add to the lead as Jacob Scavuzzo singled and Alex Verdugo doubled to keep the ball moving. It looked as if Scavuzzo would score from first on the two-bagger, but he slipped as he rounded third and had to hold up. After a strikeout of Cody Bellinger and a walk to Adam Law loaded the bases with two outs, Weaver was able to stop the bleeding as he struck out Tyler Ogle to keep the Tulsa advantage at one.
That lead was short-lived though, as the Cardinals answered in the home half of the first.
With Jeremy Kehrt on the hill for Tulsa, Jonathan Rodriguez stepped to the plate for Springfield after Harrison Bader led off the frame with a single. Rodriguez, who hit 13 home runs for Springfield last season, promptly flipped the score as he cracked a line-drive home run over the left field fence. The two-run shot put the Cardinals in front 2-1.
The Cardinals added to their lead in the second inning when Bruce Caldwell came home to score on a double play groundout off the bat of Collin Radack after he led off the frame with a double.
From there, the score held steady during the third and fourth innings, although both teams had scoring opportunities.
In the bottom of the fifth, Springfield chased Kehrt from the game as it loaded the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk. Ralston Cash was brought into the game to try and put out the fire, but walked Paul DeJong to force in a run and push the score to 4-1. The mustached reliever was able to avoid further damage though as he got Bruce Caldwell to fly out to end the inning.
Cash struggled again in the sixth inning as he loaded the bases after giving up a hit to Mason Katz, hitting Radack with a pitch and walking Harrison Bader. Katz came into score when Rodriguez dropped a soft single into center, extending the Springfield lead to 5-1.
The Drillers showed some life in the eighth inning facing reliever Heath Wyatt as they put runners on the corners with no one out. But they would only be able to score one run in the frame to pull to within 5-2.
Alex Burgos came into the game for Tulsa to pitch the eighth after Kyle Hooper delivered a scoreless seventh inning. But he was promptly greeted by a solo shot off the bat of Katz as the Cardinals pushed their advantage to 6-2.
Calhoun and Verdugo tried to spark a rally in the ninth as Verdugo traded places with Calhoun with an RBI double off reliever Kevin Herget. But that would be the final scoring of the night as Springfield was able to hold on for a 6-3 victory.
Kehrt saw his record drop to 0-2 with Tulsa this season after allowing four runs over 4.2 innings of work. Weaver picked up his second Double-A victory as he finished with nine strikeouts over 5 innings of work while Herget earned his second save of the year.
With the loss, the Drillers saw their lead in the Texas League North Division shrink to half a game with nine contests remaining in the first half.
The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their pivotal series Sunday afternoon. Getting the start for Tulsa will be RHP Scott Barlow (3-1, 2.38 ERA) while Springfield will send out RHP Daniel Poncedeleon (3-4, 3.08 ERA). First pitch from Springfield is scheduled for 2:10 PM.
Texas League Stories from June 11, 2016
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- Cardinals Defeat Drillers Saturday Night 6-3 - Tulsa Drillers
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- Cardinals Take Opener from Tulsa, 6-3, in Battle for 1st Place - Springfield Cardinals
- Early Lead Doesn't Stand as Travelers Walk-Off Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. Midland RockHounds - June 11, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
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