TL1 Springfield Cardinals

Drillers Fend off Cardinals, 6-5, in Homestand Finale

Published on June 24, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Springfield, MO - The Tulsa Drillers hung on for the 6-5 win against the Springfield Cardinals before 4,553 fans at Hammons Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Following a quick 1-2-3 top of the first by All-Star RHP Arturo Reyes, the Cardinals (0-2, 30-42) swung in front against RHP Chris Anderson (W, 7-4) in the bottom of the first. All-Star RF Jeremy Hazelbaker led off with a single. All-Star CF Nick Martini then grounded a ball to first base that 1B Lars Anderson fielded but errantly threw to second, enabling Hazelbaker to make it safely to second base with Martini reaching first base. After a fielder's choice hit into by LF Anthony Garcia put runners at the corners with two down, 1B Jonathan Rodriguez ripped an RBI double inside the left field line. Hazelbaker scored on Rodriguez's double, but Tulsa threw out Garcia trying to score from first, followed by a quick groundout to close the bottom of the first with the Cardinals ahead, 1-0.

Reyes continued to keep the Drillers (2-0, 32-39) bats at bay through the scoreless second and third, before Rodriguez and the Cardinals struck again in the bottom of the third. Garcia was hit by a pitch from Anderson to open the inning with a man on. Rodriguez then belted his second RBI double of the game to left-center field, bringing in Garcia to make it 2-0.

Reyes worked around an error in the fourth and a double in the fifth, posting five scoreless innings to start his outing. However, the Drillers broke through with an unearned run in the top of the sixth. Reyes retired the first two outs in quick order, but then 3B Kyle Farmer reached on a fielding error by 3B Patrick Wisdom to extend the inning. The next batter, 1B Lars Anderson, rocketed an RBI double to right-center, scoring Farmer from first to get the Drillers on the board, 2-1.

After LHP Ryan Sherriff got the Cardinals out of the sixth with the one-run lead intact, the Drillers completed the comeback in the top of the seventh against All-Star RHP Chris Thomas (L, 1-3). RF Jeremy Rathjen sparked the rally with his third hit of the day, a leadoff single, followed by a walk from 3B Jarek Cunningham. Pinch-hitting INF Nate Samson attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Thomas pounced on the ball from the mound and dealt a bullet to third to retire Rathjen. However, with runners at first and second, SS Ronald Torreyes tied it with an RBI single. LF Brian Burgamy then knocked the go-ahead two-run double to right field, bringing in Samson and Torreyes. Farmer followed suit with an RBI double of his own, plating Burgamy to open the lead to 5-2. One out later, an RBI double from 2B Adam Law capped the five-run rally and increased the Drillers advantage to 6-2.

The Cardinals, though, refused to go down quietly, racing right back into it in the bottom of the eighth against RHP Randy Fontanez. With two outs and nobody on, Hazelbaker kept the inning alive with a single, his third hit of the game. Martini then worked a walk to further extend the frame, before Garcia unloaded the screaming three-run home run into the Drillers bullpen in left field, making it just a one-run deficit for Springfield, 6-5.

LHP Iden Nazario, who had tossed a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, followed the rally with a scoreless top of the ninth, keeping the Cardinals within just one run.

Springfield got right back to it in the bottom of the ninth against LHP Jeremy Horst (S, 7). With one away, 2B Bruce Caldwell singled himself aboard to get the potential tying run on base. One out later, Caldwell raced from first to third on a two-out single from SS Breyvic Valera. With the tying run at third and the winning run at first, Horst won the battle against pinch-hitting All-Star CF Charlie Tilson, inducing a game-ending fly out and the Drillers escaped with the 6-5 win.

Check out the Springfield Cardinals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from June 24, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central