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TL1 Springfield Cardinals

Cardinals Split Doubleheader with Frisco

April 16, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Springfield, MO - After rain washed away Friday night's scheduled game, the Cardinals and RoughRiders locked horns in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Hammons Field and having won the first game of the series, the Cardinals needed just a split to secure their first series win of the season.

The sun was out and the flags were blowing as Cardinals fans filled the seats for an exciting double-header today at Hammons Field. Game one featured a pair of right handed pitchers, Deryk Hooker, 7th round draft pick for the Cardinals and Jake Brighman for the RoughRiders. Hooker had a rough start walking and hitting his first two batters, but made a quick turn around with a pickoff and two strike outs to end the 1st inning. Brighman, on the other hand, would allow two 1st inning runs thanks to RBI singles from Matt Adams and Niko Vasquez to give the Cardinals an early 2-0 lead.

After an easy 2nd inning, Hooker hit a wall with two outs giving up four hits and four runs, highlighted by a Tommy Mendonca two-run homer, before silencing the Frisco bats. The Cardinals were quick to respond, with two singles and an RBI double by Vasquez scoring Aaron Luna to trail by a single run, 4-3.

Going into the 4th, less then an hour into the game, Frisco came back for more as Jose Ruiz and David Paisano singled before being driven home by Guilder Rodriguez on a two- run double. Brigham got back to work as he struck out Jose Garcia before walking Charlie Cutler then Tommy Pham bounced into a double play to end the frame. Pitching his last inning, Brigham went three up and three down in the 5th thanks to another double play turned by his defense.

Hooker left after five innings allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out a season high six. Lefty Ryan Kulik came in for the final two innings not allowing a run for Springfield.

Trailing by three going into the bottom of the seventh, Frisco brought in reliever Justin Miller, a 16th round draft pick in 08', to try and close the game. The Cardinals would not go quietly; however, as Jose Garcia led the inning off with a single up the middle, followed by walks to Cutler and Tommy Pham to load the bases with Ryan Jackson at the plate. With no out, Jackson hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Garcia to make it a 6-4 game. Tyler Henley was next at the plate and drew a walk to load the bases once again for Aaron Luna. Luna then popped up to first, leaving Miller one out away from a save. Matt Adams stepped up with two outs and bases loaded battling Miller for 10 pitches, but came up short flying out to center, ending the game with a 6-4 final score.

Game two of this afternoon double header, and final game of the three game series, put Richard Castillo, a 21 year old out of Venezuela, against a lefty, Miguel De Los Santos for the Roughriders. Castillo started the Birds off, giving up two first inning singles, but returned safely to the dugout with no harm done after retiring Jonathan Greene on a groundout. De Los Santos took to the rubber in hopes of the same outcome, but the Cardinals were quick to jump in front as Ryan Jackson started the rally with a double, followed by a walk from Aaron Luna and a three-run blast by Matt Adams, his first with Springfield, to put the Redbirds out in front 3-0.

Castillo pitched to the first four batters in the 3rd allowing a one-out walk to Beltre before Davis Stoneburner doubled to left to make it a 3-1 game. Michael Bianucci followed with a walk to end Castillo's afternoon. Jose Rada came in out of the bullpen and his first Double-A appearance wasn't exactly what he was hoping for as he gave up a three run homer to Tommy Mendonca to give the lead to Frisco 4-3, before striking out Greene and Jose Ruiz to end the inning. Rada finished the afternoon with a scoreless 4th to keep the Cardinals within a run.

De Los Santos would stifle the Cardinals bats for the next three innings before exiting the game in the bottom of the 5th with no outs and the bases loaded thanks to three straight walks. Frisco's Ramon Aguero stepped out of the bullpen, hoping to get out of the inning unscathed, but he came up short as the Cardinals rallied back with a three run inning, highlighted by a Tommy Pham sacrifice fly, a Ryan Jackson RBI single and a bases loaded walk to Matt Adams to give Springfield a 6-4 lead. All told, there were five walks combined between De Los Santos and Aguero aiding the Cardinals big inning.

Brett Zawacki stepped onto the rubber going in the 5th and retired Frisco in order, but the 6th was not as easy for the right-hander. After Tommy Mendonca led off the inning with a single, Zawacki retired the next two batters before David Paisano singled through the left side to score Mendonca bringing Frisco within a run, 6-5. That brought in Casey Mulligan, the Cardinals closer, from the bullpen to finish the inning getting a ground out with runners at first and second and maintaining a one-run lead.

Mulligan closed the night as he went one, two, three through the 'Riders top of the line-up ending the evening with his 3rd save of the season. Cardinals' bullpen pitched a combined 4 and 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs and three hits with five strikeouts.

Springfield will welcome the Midland RockHounds to Hammons Field to start a three game series Sunday afternoon at 4:07pm. The Cardinals will send right hander Michael Blazek to the mound against righty Ethan Hollingsworth of Midland in the series opener.

Sunday will be the first of our Themed Jerseys as Springfield will host St. Patrick's Day in April. The team will be wearing green jerseys with an Irish feel and those exact jerseys worn by the players and coaches will be autographed and will be available for auction with the proceeds going to benefit the Champions Committed to Kids. We encourage all fans to get into the spirit and sport some Irish green along with your Cardinals Red! Sundays are always Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sundays where all kids coming into the park receive a free ice cream treat and all kids are invited to run the bases following the game presented by the Missouri National Guard. Game time on Sunday is 4:07pm and tickets are available by visiting the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at springfieldcardinals.com or by calling (417) 863-2143.

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