Cardinals Fall to Naturals 5-4
August 23, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
Springfield, MO - Fresh off a 14 hour bus ride from Corpus Christi last night and into Tuesday afternoon, the Cardinals looked to make it two wins in a row with #1 prospect Shelby Miller on the mound. The Naturals countered with righty Jake Odorizzi, who was the key trade chip in the Zack Greinke deal last December.
Northwest Arkansas did not waste any time getting to a rusty Shelby Miller who had not pitched in 13 days. Derrick Robinson led off with a walk, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Christian Colon. After another walk issued by Miller, the right hander got a ground out from Jamie Romak that advanced runners to second and third. After a strikeout, Miller balked with Matt Treanor at the plate forcing in Colon to give the Naturals a 2-0 lead. Miller would throw 31 pitches in the first inning.
Springfield finally answered in the 2nd against Odorizzi when Zack Cox led off the frame with a solo homer to center field to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. For Cox, it was his third straight game with a home run.
Miller would settle into a nice groove after the 1st inning retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. He lasted just four innings while throwing 67 pitches with three strikeouts.
The Cardinals would get Miller off the hook for a loss by tying the game in the bottom of the 4th inning with two outs. Jermaine Curtis started it with a single followed by a Chris Swauger single and Charlie Cutler's RBI single to even the score 2-2.
Scott Schneider came in for relief in the 5th and would load the bases with two outs, but got out of the jam getting a fielder's choice ground out to end the inning. He would not have the same success in the sixth; however, as Rey Navarro reached on a fielding error by Jose Garcia at second base as scored from first on a bloop single to center field by Paulo Orlando to give the Naturals a 3-2 lead.
Springfield answered and in a big way in the bottom of the 6th. Matt Adams roped a single to right and, with one out, Zack Cox blasted his second homer of the night, a two-run shot, to give the Cardinals their first lead of the night, 4-3.
After 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball from reliever Jeff Lyman, the Cardinals went to Jorge Rondon to get the final three outs of the game. That would not be so easy for the righty however as he coughed up yet another lead. Rey Navarro led off with a single and moved to second on a missed catch at second base. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Jeff Bianchi singled to center scoring two to give the Naturals a 5-4 lead.
In the 9th, Springfield went in order to lose the series opener, their 8th loss in nine games.
The Cardinals will continue their series with the NW Arkansas Naturals Wednesday at 7:07pm. Springfield will send lefty John Gast to the mound against right hander Mario Santiago in game two of the series.
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 August 23, 2011
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- Bianchi Delivers in Clutch Tuesday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Sullivan Leads Drillers in Shutout of Travs, 5-0 - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Fall to Naturals 5-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Snyder, Frisco Wins Series Opener 5-2 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Game Notes, August 23 - Corpus Christi at Midland - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Schedule Ticket 'Amnesty Night' - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cody Decker Activated From Disabled List - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Last Home Stand Starts Tuesday - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Wait out Rain, Outlast Midland - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Complete Sweep Monday - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Drop 2nd Straight to Riders - Tulsa Drillers
- Missions Defeat Travelers, Sweep Series And Home Stand - San Antonio Missions
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