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TL1 Springfield Cardinals

Lee Tosses Complete Game; Cards Top Riders, 5-1

June 2, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Springfield, MO - RHP Thomas Lee dealt his first-career nine-inning complete game, leading the Springfield Cardinals to the 5-1 win against the Frisco RoughRiders before 3,213 fans at Hammons Field on Tuesday night.

Lee joins RHP Mike Mayers, who tossed a complete-game shutout against Arkansas on May 4, as the only two Cardinals to go the distance in a nine-inning game this year. They are the first Cardinals to accomplish the feat since RHP Seth Maness tossed a complete game against Arkansas on June 12, 2012.

After two quick, scoreless innings from Lee (W, 4-3) to start off, the Cardinals (18-33) bats cracked the scoreless tie against LHP Chad Bell (L, 1-6) in the bottom of the second. DH Anthony Garcia got the offense in gear with a leadoff single, followed promptly by a sharp base hit from C Michael Ohlman. After a strikeout, 2B Bruce Caldwell pulled an RBI single through the right side, bringing in Garcia for the go-ahead run. Bell battled back with another strikeout for the frame's second out, but SS Aledmyz Diaz drove a two-out RBI single through the middle, bringing in Ohlman to double the lead to 2-0.

Lee kept the RoughRiders (21-30) off the board in the third as well, but Frisco broke through in the top of the fourth. With one away, RF Nomar Mazara skied a solo home run to left-center field, slicing the Cardinals lead to 2-1.

Lee, though, got right back on track and retired 15 of the next 18 batters that he faced, allowing just two singles and a walk throughout the rest of the game. He finished the complete game with only the one run allowed on four total hits, walking one and striking out four. The picture of efficiency, Lee needed only 90 pitches (64 strikes) to get through the nine innings, inducing 13 groundouts in the dominant performance.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals added three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth against the rehabbing Texas Ranger and former Missouri State Bear, LHP Ross Detwiler. With one away, 1B Jonathan Rodriguez and LF Nick Martini ripped back-to-back base hits. Garcia then worked a walk to load the bases for Ohlman with only one away. Ohlman skied an RBI sacrifice fly to center field that scored Rodriguez from third and led to more. After making the grab, CF Jake Skole tried to throw out Martini who was attempting to advance to third base. However, Skole's throw sailed past third, enabling Martini to pop up and come home on the throwing error. With Garcia the only man left on the bases after the sacrifice fly and error, 3B Patrick Wisdom quickly struck with an RBI single to left field, scoring Garcia to stretch it to a 5-1 lead.

With some more breathing room on the board, Lee promptly retired the first two outs to start the top of the ninth. Following a two-out single from 3B Edwin Garcia, Lee struck out Mazara for the game's final out, closing the Cardinals 5-1 win and the complete game for the right-hander.

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