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Lee and Cardinals Shut Out Naturals, 5-0

May 8, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Springfield, MO - Six days after RHP Mike Mayers' complete-game shutout in Arkansas last Saturday, RHP Thomas Lee tossed 8.2 scoreless innings on Friday to lead the Springfield Cardinals to the 5-0 shutout win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 5,871 fans at Hammons Field. It is the third Cardinals shutout win of the season.

Lee (W, 2-2) came within one out of being the second Springfield Cardinal to go the distance in a shutout this week. He finished with five strikeouts while scattering only six hits and walking a pair in his dominant performance.

After Lee's first two scoreless stanzas, the Cardinals (8-20) struck for two early runs in the bottom of the second against LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (L, 1-2). With one away, DH David Washington worked a walk to reach base. LF Anthony Garcia promptly plated Washington all the way from first base with a screaming RBI double into the left field corner. After a groundout, 3B Alex Mejia placed a two-out RBI single to shallow center field, bringing home Garcia for the 2-0 lead.

Lee worked out of a rare jam in the top of the third to keep the Naturals (17-11) off the scoreboard, before the Cardinals stretched the lead in the bottom of the third. SS Aledmys Diaz drove a double the opposite way to right field to start the stanza. One out later, Diaz moved to third on a line drive single from 1B Jonathan Rodriguez, before coming home on an RBI double by Washington. Washington's seventh RBI of the series increased the Cardinals advantage to 3-0.

Springfield stayed on the attack with single runs in the fourth and fifth. 3B Alex Mejia started the fourth with a single and took second on an error on the play. After moving to third on a groundout, Mejia darted home on an RBI sacrifice fly from CF Charlie Tilson, making it 4-0.

1B Jonathan Rodriguez then started the rally in the bottom of the fifth, opening the inning with his seventh double of the year. One out later, Rodriguez moved to third on an error, before racing home on an RBI groundout from RF Starlin Rodriguez, increasing the lead to 5-0.

Lee continued to keep the Naturals bats at bay with scoreless inning after scoreless inning. After retiring the first two outs in the top of the ninth, Lee induced what would have been the game-ending groundout from LF Terrance Gore. However, sure-handed 2B Jacob Wilson had a quick bobble on the play, with the error extending the game. After the miscue, LHP Iden Nazario took over on the mound and retired the one batter he faced with a flyout to center field, closing the Cardinals 5-0 shutout win.

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