RHP Daniel Poncedeleon dealt 7.2 scoreless innings to help lead the Springfield Cardinals to the 1-0 shutout win against the Frisco RoughRiders before 5,858 fans at Hammons Field on Friday night. The lone run in the pitchers' duel came on CF Harrison Bader's solo blast in the bottom of the eighth.
With the win, the Cardinals increase their lead for 1st place in the North Division First Half Standings to 2.5 games over the Tulsa Drillers.
Rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals SS Jhonny Peralta worked a walk in his Hammons Field debut. Peralta is expected to continue his Rehab Assignment on Saturday.
Cardinals RHP Daniel Poncedeleon and RoughRiders LHP Yohander Mendez dueled back and forth with scoreless inning after scoreless inning.
Mendez kept the Cardinals (26-22) in check through five frames, striking out three along the way. Poncedeleon outlasted his counterpart, charging through 7.2 scoreless innings with only five hits allowed while striking out six. With two on and two down in the top of the eighth, Poncedeleon gave way to RHP Ronnie Shaban (W, 2-0), who navigated the Cardinals out of the jam with the scoreless tie intact.
Springfield then cracked the scoreless tie in the bottom of the eighth against LHP Ryne Slack (L, 2-1). With one away and the bases empty, CF Harrison Bader crushed a solo home run to left field, his team-leading 10th long-ball of the year, lifting the Cardinals into the 1-0 lead.
Shaban then worked around a leadoff single in the top of the ninth, retiring the next three batters in order to close the 1-0 shutout win for Springfield.
