The Midland RockHounds edged the Springfield Cardinals, 3-2, in 10 innings before 2,639 fans at Hammons Field on Tuesday night.
The RockHounds (23-21) seized the early advantage with an unearned run against RHP Andrew Morales in the top of the second. With one away, LF J.P. Sportman and RF Danny Oh connected on consecutive singles to reach base. Morales then dug in with a strikeout of 2B Wade Kirkland, bringing up C Andy Paz with two away. Both runners attempted a double steal on the first pitch to Paz, but took off before Morales started the wind up. Morales attempted to throw from the mound to third base to retire Sportman, but misfired past the bag for a throwing error that enabled Sportman to score, lifting the RockHounds ahead, 1-0.
Morales posted a quick, scoreless third, but Midland added to the lead with another opportunistic run in the fourth. With runners at second and third and two away, Morales unleashed a wild pitch that skipped away from C Carson Kelly, allowing Sportman to again race in from third, making it 2-0.
RockHounds RHP Corey Walter kept the narrow Midland lead intact through his scoreless five innings, but the Cardinals (24-21) broke through against the bullpen in the sixth. With RHP Kris Hall on the mound, RF Breyvic Valera led off the inning with a bunt single. 2B Bruce Caldwell and 1B Luke Voit then worked consecutive four-pitch walks to load the bases with no outs. C Carson Kelly got the Cardinals on the board with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, enabling Valera to tag and race home from third, cutting the deficit in half, 2-1.
Springfield completed the comeback with the game-tying run against RHP Sam Bragg (W, 2-1) in the bottom of the eighth. With one away and the bases clear, Caldwell drilled a solo shot just inside the left field foul pole for his seventh home run of the year, squaring the score at 2-2.
After Bragg escaped out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth, the RockHounds swung in front in the top of the 10th against RHP Josh Lucas (L, 1-2). With runners at the corners and two down, CF Brett Vertigan lined an RBI single to center field, lifting Midland into the 3-2 lead.
The Cardinals got Kelly on base and as far as second base on an error in the bottom of the 10th, but Bragg navigated through the scoreless inning to close the 3-2 win for the RockHounds in 10 frames.
