Cardinals Win Regular Season Finale, 6-3, on Monday
Published on September 7, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals closed the 2015 Regular Season with a 6-3 win against the Tulsa Drillers before 5,354 fans at Hammons Field on Monday afternoon.
The Cardinals close the campaign with a 34-36 record in the Second Half and a 64-76 overall record, winning seven of their last 10 games to race back into the playoff hunt. However, with the Arkansas Travelers beating the Northwest Arkansas Naturals today, the Travs have clinched the North Division Second Half Title and the final postseason berth.
The Drillers (32-38, 62-77) opened the early advantage with one run against RHP Andrew Morales (W, 5-8) in the top of the first. With one away, SS Brandon Trinkwon worked a walk, before taking second on a wild pitch. 1B Lars Anderson then struck with an RBI single, bringing in Trinkwon for the 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals, though, answered right away, rallying for five runs in the bottom of the first against RHP Rob Rogers (L, 1-1). For the fifth straight game, CF Charlie Tilson started the bottom of the first with a hit, rifling a double inside the right field line. Two outs later with Tilson at third, 1B Jonathan Rodriguez reached on a fielding error that allowed Tilson to score and the inning to continue. After Rodriguez stole second base, C Michael Ohlman further extended the inning with a two-out walk. RF David Washington and 3B Patrick Wisdom then swung the Cardinals in front with consecutive sharp RBI singles. With SS Breyvic Valera at the plate, a wild pitch moved Washington to third and Wisdom to second. Valera then brought both runners home with a two-run single to center field, stretching the Springfield lead to 5-1.
Morales kept the Drillers from chipping away with scoreless work from the second through the fifth, but Tulsa edged closer in the top of the sixth with an unearned run. 1B Brandon Trinkwon started the rally with a base hit, followed by a fielding error by Rodriguez allowing Anderson to reach while Trinkwon took third. C Kyle Farmer then lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, plating Trinkwon to cut the Cardinals lead to 5-2.
The Cardinals, though, got the run right back against LHP Ramon Benjamin in the bottom of the sixth. Leading off the frame, Valera belted a solo shot to left field to increase the lead back to four runs, 6-2.
Morales closed his outing with a scoreless seventh, before RHP Silfredo Garcia blanked the Drillers in the eighth.
RHP Ronnie Shaban took over for the top of the ninth and started the stanza with consecutive strikeouts, before Tulsa plated one last run. Mayora singled and took second on indifference, before darting home on an RBI double hit by LF Jeremy Rathjen to shallow right field, which was blown away from RF David Washington by the wind. However, Shaban responded by slamming the door with a strikeout, closing the 6-3 win for Springfield.
Texas League Stories from September 7, 2015
- Marte Goes Deep But Riders Drop Season Finale - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks End Regular Year with MiLB-Best 89 Wins - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Another Big Inning Lifts Hooks Past Missions in Season Finale - San Antonio Missions
- Arkansas Travelers Second Half Champs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Win Regular Season Finale, 6-3, on Monday - Springfield Cardinals
- Late Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss at Arkansas - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RockHounds Sweep Weekly Texas League Honors - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Close Season with Loss in Springfield - Tulsa Drillers
- 'Hounds Are Historically Good ... Renato Is Just Grand - Midland RockHounds
- Tulsa Offense Explodes in 10-4 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Top Cards Before 8,385 Fans at Hammons Field - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Rout Missions for Win No. 88 - Corpus Christi Hooks
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