3B Paul DeJong launched a game-winning, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Springfield Cardinals to the 4-3 walk-off win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 3,573 fans at Hammons Field on Monday night.
After RHP Trey Nielsen posted a perfect inning in the top of the first to start the game, CF Harrison Bader launched the first pitch of the bottom of the first over the right field fence for a leadoff home run to swing Springfield ahead, 1-0.
Nielsen retired the Naturals (6-11) in 1-2-3 order in the top of the second, before the Cardinals (10-7) struck again against LHP Matt Strahm in the bottom of the frame. Leading off the inning, 1B Luke Voit clubbed a solo home run, his second of the year, to right-center field, doubling the early lead to 2-0.
The Naturals chipped the deficit down in the top of the fourth with an unearned run. CF Bubba Starling started the stanza with a double, before moving to third as 3B Hunter Dozier reached on a throwing error by 2B Bruce Caldwell. RF Orlando Calixte then chopped a grounder up the middle that SS Breyvic Valera stopped with a dive and turned two on, but it brought in Dozier from third to make it just a 2-1 lead for the Cardinals.
Northwest Arkansas then powered in front in the top of the fifth. With one on and two away, SS Raul Mondesi pulled a two-run home run to right field, lifting the Naturals into the 3-2 advantage.
Nielsen closed the fifth with no further damage, before giving way to RHP Chris Thomas with two on and two down in the sixth. Thomas got the Cardinals out of the jam with an inning-ending strikeout to keep it just a one-run deficit.
Thomas then took care of the seventh in scoreless fashion, followed by two shutout frames from RHP Josh Lucas (W, 1-1) to send the game into the bottom of the ninth with Springfield only trailing, 3-2.
Naturals RHP Yender Caramo (L, 1-2) started the bottom of the ninth with an out, before RF David Washington tore a base hit to right-center field. Voit followed with a single of his own, advancing Washington to second with one away. Caramo battled back with a strikeout of DH Chris Jacobs, leading to 3B Paul DeJong stepping up with two on and two down. DeJong came through with a rocket to right-center field, swinging the Cardinals to the 4-3 walk-off victory with a game-winning two-run double. It marks the first walk-off win for Springfield this year.
