The Springfield Cardinals rallied with four runs in the eighth to tie the game, before walking off with one run in the ninth for the 5-4 comeback win against the Frisco RoughRiders before 5,045 fans at Hammons Field on Saturday night. The Cardinals maintain their 2.5-game lead over the Tulsa Drillers for 1st place in the North Division First Half Standings.
The RoughRiders (30-18) got out to a powerful start with home runs in the first and second against RHP Trey Nielsen. 1B Ronald Guzman provided the shot in the first, a solo home run, before C Kellin Deglan drove a two-run homer in the second, opening the early 3-0 lead for Frisco.
Nielsen dug in the rest of the way, blanking the RoughRiders through the remainder of his seven-inning outing. He finished the start with a stellar top of the seventh, striking out the side after a pair of singles to open the frame. Nielsen tallied a total of eight strikeouts with only two walks and seven hits scattered.
Frisco, though, also received a good starting performance, with RHP Reed Garrett keeping the three-run lead intact through his five scoreless frames on the mound. RHP Jose Valdespina picked up where Garrett left off, tossing a pair of scoreless innings to keep the 3-0 Frisco lead on the board.
However, the Cardinals (27-22) ignited their offense in the bottom of the eighth against RHP John Fasola (L, 0-1). CF Harrison Bader sparked the rally with a leadoff solo home run, his team-leading 11th long-ball of the year and the third straight game in which he's hit a home run. 1B Luke Voit and RF Anthony Garcia followed the Bader blast with back-to-back singles, putting two men on for 3B Paul DeJong. DeJong brought both home with a two-run double to right-center, before taking third on a throwing error charged to CF Lewis Brinson. One out later, DH Collin Radack brought DeJong home with a game-tying RBI single to right field, squaring the score at 4-4.
After RHP Chris Perry (W, 1-0) struck out a pair in the 1-2-3 top of the ninth, the Cardinals went right back on the attack in the bottom of the ninth. SS Breyvic Valera started the charge with a single to left field, before moving to second base on a walk drawn by 2B Bruce Caldwell. One out later, Voit sent a foul ball deep down the right field side that was caught by RF Zach Cone but enabled Valera and Caldwell to tag and take ninety feet. With runners at second and third and two away, RF Anthony Garcia grounded the ball to 2B Evan Van Hoosier. Van Hoosier, however, bobbled the ball for a fielding error that allowed Garcia to beat the play at first, enabling Valera to charge home from third and score the winning run in the 5-4 walk-off victory for the Cardinals.
