Cards Top Drillers 6-5 in Series Opener, Win 5th Straight
April 16, 2019 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals (5-7) pushed their win streak to five games Monday night with a 6-5 series opening win over the Tulsa Drillers (5-6) at Hammons Field.
The 5-0 home start is a new organization record for the best start to a home schedule in Springfield's 15-year history, breaking 2010's 4-0 start. The 2010 Cardinals finished the season 76-64 and lost in the Texas League Semi-Finals.
DECISIONS:
W: RHP Williams Perez (1-1)
L: RHP Justin De Fratus (0-1)
S: RHP Seth Elledge (1)
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- 2B Irving Lopez's two-run homer in the third inning pulled the Cardinals within 3-2 and his second of the game in the fifth gave Springfield the lead for good at 5-3.
- 1B Chris Chinea tied the game 3-3 with a solo shot to center in the fourth, fully erasing a 3-0 Cardinals deficit that came courtesy of a three-run second inning by Tulsa.
- A two-out RBI single by C Jose Godoy proved the difference. That hit scored Evan Mendoza and put the Cardinals ahead 6-4 in the eighth. Gavin Lux then led off the top of the ninth with a solo home run to pull the Drillers within 6-5 before Seth Elledge nailed down the final three outs for the save.
NOTABLES:
- The two home runs by Lopez gives the second baseman five dingers in his last six games and four in the first five games of the Cardinals homestand.
- 3B Evan Mendoza's six-game hit streak ended with an 0-for-3 night.
- The save by Elledge was the first successful save attempt by Cardinals relievers this season.
COMING UP TUESDAY AT HAMMONS!
- Hot dogs. Day baseball. $1 hot dogs and day baseball. Combine these good things Tuesday when you can eat all the $1 hot dogs you can handle thanks to Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day!
First pitch is set for 11:10am on Tuesday with gates opening at 10:10am.
Texas League Stories from April 16, 2019
- Riders Surge Late But Come up Short in Corpus Christi - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cards Lose at Home for First Time in 225 Days, 11-0 to Drillers - Springfield Cardinals
- Diaz Grand Slam Lifts Hounds to Third Straight Win - Midland RockHounds
- Offense Erupts for 11 Runs as Drillers Blank Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Morejon, Potts Deliver Despite RockHounds' Late Rally to Beat Soddies - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Sod Poodles Open Three-Game Series with Hooks Thursday at Hodgetown - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Riders Return Home Thursday for Big Weekend - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Back at ONEOK Field for Brief Homestand April 18-20 - Tulsa Drillers
- Cards Top Drillers 6-5 in Series Opener, Win 5th Straight - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs Spin Second Straight Shutout - Arkansas Travelers
- RockHounds Shutout Sod Poodles - Midland RockHounds
- Mr. Clutch: Robinson Drives Walk-Off Win - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Bats Silenced by Travelers Pitching, Naturals Blanked 2-0 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Fail to Hold Early Lead in Loss to Cards - Tulsa Drillers
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