Cards Win Thursday; Look for Division Crown Friday
Published on June 25, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
The Springfield Cardinals picked up some momentum heading into their division-deciding game in Tulsa on Friday, knocking off the Arkansas Travelers by a score of 7-5 on Thursday night at Hammons Field.
Without a homer in the last four games, Springfield hit three long balls off of Travs' starter Tim Kiely, backing starting pitcher Brandon Dickson, who gave the Cards six strong innings in the win.
The Travs got the first run of the night, taking a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game. Peter Bourjos opened it with a triple, then scored on Hainley Statia's RBI single. After Dickson gave up a double to Hank Conger, he then retired the next three batters, keeping it at a 1-0 deficit.
Tony Cruz hit the first of three Springfield homers, going yard to right field in the second, his fourth of the year, tying the game at 1-1.
Pete Kozma's RBI double put the Cards ahead to stay, as he brought home Pete Kozma to make it 2-1 in the third.
The Cards exploded for five in the fifth inning. Kozma's RBI single made it 3-1, before Daniel Descalso followed with a three-run homer to right field. His seventh homer of the year made it a 6-1 game. Steven Hill followed with a solo shot of his own, his 11th of the year and first home run in over a month, making it 7-1 against Tim Kiely (1-1).
Dickson (5-4) was solid, until running into trouble in the seventh inning. The Travs scored four times in the inning, but only two were earned, due to a Springfield error.
Marco Gonzalez and Sam Freeman combined to record the final nine outs, with Freeman working 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first Double-A save.
The Cards (1-1, 39-33) and Tulsa Drillers will match up on Friday night, in the first game of a four-game series at Drillers Stadium. Friday's game will break the North Division tie between the Cards and Drillers, who both finished the first half with identical records of 38-32. Trey Hearne (7-1) will take on Drillers' right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (6-5) in the winner-take-all contest. Game time is 7:05pm and can be heard live on JOCK 98.7 or online at springfieldcardinals.com.
The Redbirds will return to Hammons Field on Thursday, July 2nd, opening a six-game home stand. Don't forget about the back-to-back Fireworks Shows, coming up on Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th. Tickets are available by calling (417) 863-2143 or online at springfieldcardinals.com. We hope to see you at Hammons Field...Escape to Cardinals Baseball!
Texas League Stories from June 25, 2009
- Naturals Top Drillers 5-1 - Tulsa Drillers
- Cards Win Thursday; Look for Division Crown Friday - Springfield Cardinals
- Trinidad Tosses Gem, Hooks Win Late - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Reckling Named to Futures All-Star Team - Arkansas Travelers
- Pujols, Castro, Lo Represent Astros in Futures Game - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Missions Add RHP Luebke, INF Forsythe; OF Kulbacki, RHP Guevara to DL - San Antonio Missions
- Missions' Manager Kennedy, RHP Latos, OF Durango Named to XM All-Star Futures Game Roster - San Antonio Missions
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