The Springfield Cardinals rallied within one run in the top of the eighth, but the Frisco RoughRiders added four in the bottom of the eighth to take the 11-6 win before 8,537 fans at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Saturday night.
For the second straight game, the Cardinals (29-26) came out swinging, staking an early lead in the top of the first against LHP Yohander Mendez (W, 2-0). CF Harrison Bader, who led off Friday's game with a home run, ripped a double down the left field line to start the action on Saturday. After a pair of strikeouts, DH Luke Voit came through with a two-out RBI single to right field, plating Bader for the 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals doubled the early advantage with another run in the top of the second. 3B Paul DeJong sparked the charge with a double to right-center, before taking third on a sacrifice bunt from C Carson Kelly. DeJong then darted home on an RBI sacrifice fly to center field from 1B Michael Ohlman, opening the advantage to 2-0.
RHP Corey Baker (L, 2-4) had authored a 1-2-3 opening inning before retiring the first two outs in the second to start his outing with five straight RoughRiders retired. However, with two away in the bottom of the second, DH Joe Jackson pulled a solo shot to right field, slicing the Cardinals lead in half, 2-1.
Springfield, though, got the run right back in the top of the third. Bader began the inning with a walk, before motoring to second on a wild pitch from Mendez. Two outs later, Voit brought in Bader with another two-out RBI single, this time lined to left field, swinging Springfield into the 3-1 lead.
The RoughRiders (32-21) countered with a six-run rally in the bottom of the fourth to catapult in front. With two on and one away, Jackson started the scoring in the inning with an RBI single to score 1B Ronald Guzman and move 2B Evan Van Hoosier to second. C Alex Burg then brought in both Van Hoosier and Jackson with a go-ahead two-run double, swinging Frisco into the 4-3 lead. Baker battled back to strike out RF Zach Cone, before giving way to RHP Pedro Echemendia. 3B Alberto Triunfel welcomed Echemendia to the mound with an RBI single, plating Burg from second base. After a single from SS Luis Mendez, CF Lewis Brinson drove a two-run triple to right field, capping the six-run rally and lifting the RoughRiders into the 7-3 advantage.
The Cardinals refused to go down without a fight, racing back within one run in the top of the eighth. With one away and LHP Ryne Slack on the mound, LF Jonathan Rodriguez ripped a base hit to left field. Rodriguez then raced around to third on a double by Voit, his third hit of the night. With two on and one down, RF Anthony Garcia crushed a three-run home run to left field, his first blast since rejoining Springfield, to bring the Cardinals within one run of tying it, 7-6.
However, the RoughRiders once again padded the advantage with a four-run frame in the bottom of the eighth. An RBI fielder's choice from SS Luis Mendez scored Burg from third and left two runners on for Brinson. Brinson then struck with a three-run homer, capping his five-RBI night, to open the lead to 11-6.
Frisco RHP John Fasola took over for the top of the ninth and dealt a 1-2-3 final frame, closing the 11-6 win for the RoughRiders.
