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TL1 Springfield Cardinals

Drillers Top Cards Before 8,385 Fans at Hammons Field

September 7, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Springfield, MO - The Tulsa Drillers topped the Springfield Cardinals, 10-4, before the sellout crowd of 8,385 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday evening.

With the Cardinals loss and the Arkansas Travelers winning their game against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Cardinals need to win Monday's season finale and have Arkansas lose on Monday to make the postseason.

The Cardinals (33-36, 63-76) got out to a quick start, striking in the bottom of the first against RHP Steve Smith. CF Charlie Tilson sparked the charge with a leadoff double, before 2B Bruce Caldwell reached with a walk. After both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt, 1B Jonathan Rodriguez sliced an RBI single to right-center field, bringing in Tilson for the 1-0 Springfield lead.

However, the Drillers (32-38, 62-76) rebounded with a six-run rally in the top of the second against LHP Jimmy Reed (L, 2-4). With one down, RF Joey Curletta doubled himself on, before coming in on an RBI single by 2B Jarek Cunningham. After a walk and a strikeout, Smith drove a two-run double to left-center field. CF Brandon Dixon, 1B Lars Anderson and C Kyle Farmer each struck with RBI singles, opening the Tulsa advantage to 6-1.

After RHP Silfredo Garcia got the Cardinals out of the second, RHP Joey Donofrio took over for the top of the third. The Drillers, though, added a seventh run in the third frame. With two on and two down, CF Brandon Dixon yanked an RBI double down the left field line, bringing LF Jeremy Rathjen home from second base for the 7-1 lead for Tulsa.

Donofrio settled things down with a scoreless top of the fourth, before the Cardinals started chipping away in the bottom of the fourth. Leading off the inning, C Michael Ohlman pulled a solo home run, his 12th blast of the year, over the left field fence to chip it down to 7-2. RF David Washington worked a walk after the Ohlman shot, but was retired at second on a fielder's choice hit into by 3B Patrick Wisdom. With Wisdom on at first and one down, SS Breyvic Valera ripped a single through the right side. LF Mike O'Neill then entered as a pinch hitter and promptly placed an RBI single through the middle of the infield, bringing home Wisdom and moving Valera to second. Following a foul out, 2B Bruce Caldwell laced an RBI single to center field, scoring Valera and bringing the Cardinals within three runs, 7-4.

The Drillers, though, padded the advantage in the top of the eighth inning. Facing RHP Chris Perry, pinch-hitting OF Yadir Drake and Dixon went back-to-back with base hits to start the stanza. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third, the Cardinals intentionally walked Anderson to load the bases. RHP Robby Rowland entered the game to face C Kyle Farmer, but an inside pitch grazed Farmer's jersey for an RBI hit-by-pitch, forcing Drake in from third. Curletta then followed with a two-run double, opening the advantage to 10-4.

The Drillers received a pair of scoreless relief innings from RHP Caleb Dirks in the eighth and the ninth, closing the 10-4 win for Tulsa. RHP Ralston Cash (W, 2-6) logged the victory for the Drillers with 1.1 scoreless relief frames.

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