Cardinals Fall to Midland 15-12
Published on July 10, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
Springfield, MO - Scoring eight unanswered runs, the Springfield Cardinals looked to be on the verge of a dramatic comeback.
Those hopes took a huge hit one half inning later. Back-to-back home runs in the eighth, one of which was a grand slam, quickly extinguished any chance for a Cardinal win, and Springfield fell to Midland 15-12.
In a game that saw Midland jump out to a 10-0 lead, and Springfield tying a franchise-record with five errors, it wasn't until Jeremy Barfield's eighth inning bases-clearing grand slam that finally put the game out of reach.
Joe Kelly (5-2, 2.60 ERA with Palm Beach) made his first start Double-A start for the Cardinals. Unfortunately for Kelly, it would be a forgettable appearance.
Gary Daley (3-1, 2.72 ERA) returned to Springfield in making the start for Midland. Sporting a 6.70 ERA last year with the Cardinals, Daley has found new life with the Athletics organization.
Kelly got a rude welcome to Double-A baseball early. After retiring the first batter he faced, Kelly surrendered a base hit to Midland's Wes Timmons and then gave up a two-run home run to third baseman Stephen Parker. The two RBI's were Parker's 49th and 50th of the year, and were the first runs Midland had scored in two games, giving the RockHounds a 2-0 lead.
The tough times continued for Kelly in the second, as his 35-pitch inning turned into two more runs for Midland and a 4-0 lead. Jeremy Barfield and Ryan Ortiz reached on a walk and hit batsman, respectively, and came across on Timmons' RBI line drive single to center field. Springfield pitching coach Bryan Eversgerd visited Kelly on the mound, and the young right-hander got it going, striking out the two final batters of the inning.
Springfield's defense didn't help out their young pitcher in the third, committing three errors that led to another Midland run. An errant throw from second baseman Jose Garcia on a potential double play ball allowed the RockHounds to increase their lead to 5-0.
Midland used another former Cardinal to balloon their lead to 8-0 in the fourth. Center fielder Shane Peterson hit a three-run home run to dead center field, scoring Parker and Michael Spina on the blast. With 97 pitches thrown through four innings, Kelly's Springfield debut came to a close (4.0 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 6 K).
The fifth inning was more of the same for Midland, as they continued their strategy of scoring runs in every inning to outlast the competition. Jose Garcia committed his second error of the day, and the Cardinals fifth, and Timmons homered on the very next pitch, increasing the RockHound lead to 10-0. For the sixteenth time in 2011, the Springfield Cardinals had given up ten or more runs in a game.
The attempted comeback finally started for Springfield in the bottom of the fifth. Designated hitter Charlie Cutler reached on a single, and came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of catcher Audry Perez. The RBI was Perez's 23rd of the year, and trimmed the RockHound lead to 10-1.
The wheels really started turning for the Cardinal offense in the bottom of the sixth. Adams led off with his club leading 18th home run of the year. Alex Castellanos walked and Zack Cox picked up his seventh hit in the past three games with a double. Charlie Cutler followed with his third hit of the game, a two-run RBI double to left. Two batters later, Daryl Jones flew out to deep center field, scoring Cutler on the play, and cutting the Midland lead to 10-5.
Four consecutive singles in the bottom of the seventh brought the Cardinals all the way back into the game. Jackson got things started, and Adams, Castellanos and Cox all followed with base hits of their own, with runs scoring on the final two hits. Cutler drove home the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left, slicing the RockHounds lead to 10-8.
The gas in the Cardinals comeback ran out in the top of the eighth. Barfield connected on his grand slam, and catcher Ryan Ortiz followed with a solo shot of his own, expanding the RockHounds lead to 15-8.
Springfield would add another in the eighth. Jones and Perez led off the inning with back-to-back hits and Jackson drove home Jones on an RBI double to left.
With no outs in the ninth inning, the Cardinals had already loaded the bases. Jones inched the Cardinals closer with his second sacrifice fly of the game. Two batters later, Garcia singled up the middle, scoring two on the play, but that would be all, and the Cardinals fell to the RockHounds 15-12.
Charlie Cutler and Zack Cox both had three-hit games, leading the way for Springfield.
The Cardinals will continue their three-game series with Midland Monday night. John Gast will make his Hammons Field debut for Springfield against former big leaguer Jason Bergmann of the RockHounds at 7:07pm.
Every Monday this year is a Fazoli's Four Pack night where a family of four will receive four tickets, four shirts and a family meal for four at Fazoli's for just $40! So, come on out to take advantage of this terrific deal! 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 10, 2011
- Late Inning Heroics Give Missions 3-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Comeback to Thrash Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homerun in 13th Sinks Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Fall to Midland 15-12 - Springfield Cardinals
- Frisco Roughriders: Frisco Rebounds in Extras for Third Straight Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Late Inning Heroics Give Missions 3-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Ninth Inning Rally Not Enough, Fall 3-2 - Tulsa Drillers
- Game Notes, July 10 - Nw Arkansas at Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Holcomb Leads Drillers Over Hooks - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals fall in series finale vs. Missions - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions end losing streak - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Win Fourth Straight, Sweep Rockhounds - Arkansas Travelers
- Missions dominate - San Antonio Missions
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