Fresh off the series win in San Antonio, the Springfield Cardinals took the opener against the Corpus Christi Hooks, 6-4, before 5,470 fans at Whataburger Field on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals have gotten off to the best start in the North Division at 3-1.
Corpus Christi (2-2) dealt the first blow in the bottom of the first against RHP Andrew Morales (W, 1-0). With one on and two down, DH Chase McDonald knocked a two-run homer to left field, swinging the Hooks ahead, 2-0.
The Cardinals, though, came right back with a three-run rally in the second against LHP Brian Holmes (L, 0-1). With one down, 2B Bruce Caldwell beat the defensive shift with a bunt single. DH Chris Jacobs then bounced into a fielder’s choice, but 2B Mott Hyde dropped the ball at second base, enabling Caldwell to reach second safely with Jacobs getting to first. One out later, RF Collin Radack skied a pop up to the right side of the infield. However, neither 1B Conrad Gregor nor Hyde made the catch, allowing the ball to fall and enabling Caldwell to score on an RBI base hit for Radack. LF C.J. McElroy, Jr. then grounded a ball inside the third base line that 3B Jack Mayfield fielded and threw to second. However, Radack beat the throw to second with everyone being safe on the play and Jacobs charging home from third to tie it at 2-2. CF Harrison Bader then stepped up with two on and two down, and promptly ripped a two-out RBI single that plated Radack for the 3-2 lead.
The Hooks had a quick retort, tying the game in the bottom of the second. With one away, Mayfield hit a solo shot off the left field foul pole, evening the score at 3-3.
After that home run, however, Morales dug in and retired 11 of the next 12 batters that he faced, allowing just a walk throughout the rest of his five-inning start. He finished with only the three runs allowed on three hits, walking two and striking out four.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals went back on the attack in the top of the fourth to swing out of the tie. With one away and the bases clear, C Carson Kelly launched his first Double-A home run, a solo blast to left field that put the Cardinals up by one run. One out later, McElroy, Jr. extended the inning with a two-out double. He then came racing home when Bader delivered his second two-out RBI single of the day, increasing the new lead to 5-3.
Springfield further padded the advantage in the top of the fifth. With RHP Brendan McCurry on the mound, 3B Paul DeJong and 1B Luke Voit started the stanza with consecutive singles. A walk by Caldwell loaded the bases with no outs for Jacobs, who proceeded to bring DeJong in with a double play ball, making it a 6-3 advantage for the Cardinals.
Morales wrapped up his outing with a scoreless fifth, followed by two scoreless innings from RHP Chris Perry. After LHP Corey Littrell took care of the 1-2-3 eighth inning, RHP Kurt Heyer took over for the bottom of the ninth. A two-base throwing miscue started the frame with McDonald reaching second base. After a fly out, C Alfredo Gonzalez worked a walk to put two men on. Heyer battled back with a pop out against RHP Ronnie Mitchell, but Mayfield struck with a two-out RBI single, scoring McDonald and putting the tying runs at the corners. RHP Josh Lucas (S, 1) came in to face Hyde and delivered a game-ending strikeout, slamming the door in the 6-4 win for the Cardinals.
