Cards Alone in First Place After 7-3 Win
Published on May 2, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
The Springfield Cardinals took over first place again on Friday night, defeating the Northwest Arkansas Naturals by a score of 7-3 at Hammons Field. The win for Springfield puts them back in front of Northwest Arkansas by a full game in the North Division.
Matt Pagnozzi homered to deep left-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning, breaking a 2-2 tie to give Springfield the lead for good. The Cards would go on to add a few insurance runs, as Allen Craig added a three-run blast to left field and Luke Gorsett ripped a solo homer in the eighth.
The Cards needed the extra runs, as the Naturals made the ninth inning very interesting. Trailing 7-2, the first three Naturals reached base against Cards' reliever Zack Zuercher. Closer Luke Gregerson entered the game and struck out Jose Duarte for the first out, then got Angel Sanchez to ground out for the second out. On the play, Marc Maddox scored to make it a 7-3 game. With two on and former Cardinal Juan Richardson in the on-deck circle representing the tying run, Gregerson got Geraldo Valentin looking to earn his fourth save of the year.
Both starting pitchers threw the ball very well on Friday night. Cards' starter Jaime Garcia allowed just one run on five hits over six innings, while Naturals' lefty Rowdy Hardy gave up two runs, one earned over 5 2/3 innings.
Springfield got an unearned run to take the lead in the third. Matt Pagnozzi reached on an error and eventually scored on an RBI groundout from Shane Robinson, making it 1-0.
The Naturals got their only run off of Garcia in the sixth, as Valentin reached with a one-out single, then scored on a Richardson double, tying the game at 1-1.
The Redbirds immediately responded, as Gorsett's two-out RBI single plated Allen Craig to make it 2-1.
Bob Zimmermann (1-0) came out of the Springfield bullpen, but couldn't hold the lead in the seventh. Ovandy Suero reached on a walk to open the inning, then later scored on a Duarte double, tying the game at 2-2.
The tie didn't last long though, as Pagnozzi's second home run in as many games, a solo shot off of Julio de la Cruz (0-1), put Springfield ahead to stay in the bottom of the inning.
While Jose Martinez extended his hitting streak to ten straight games for Springfield, both Jon Jay (12) and Shane Robinson (8) saw theirs come to an end.
Springfield (13-15) welcomes the Arkansas Travelers to Hammons Field for a four-game series, starting on Saturday evening. Game one starters feature Springfield's Clayton Mortensen (1-1) and Arkansas right-hander Anthony Ortega (2-2). Get here early, as 2,500 kids ages 12 and under will receive a free Red Cardinals T-Shirt thanks to Great Southern. Gates open at 5:10pm and game time on Saturday night from Hammons Field will be 6:10pm. Tickets for the current home stand and all regular season home games at Hammons Field are available by calling the Cardinals Ticket Line at (417) 863-2143 or on the website at www.springfieldcardinals.com. To reach the Cardinals Front Office, please dial our new number at (417) 863-0395. We hope to see you at Hammons Field very soon. Go Cards and Get Your RED On!
Texas League Stories from May 2, 2008
- Travs Walk Off With Win 8-7 - Arkansas Travelers
- Travs Edge Drillers In Extras - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks Rally from Four Down to Avoid Sweep - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards Alone in First Place After 7-3 Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Paz, Manzella, Norris Take Home April Honors - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Back In Town Saturday Night - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks Set For Eight-Game Stand - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Campaign Goes Mobile - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hooks Rally, Then Fall in Eighth - Corpus Christi Hooks
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