RHP Daniel Poncedeleon tossed a career-high 8.1 scoreless innings to lead the Springfield Cardinals to the 2-0 shutout win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 5,210 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Friday night. Poncedeleon becomes the second straight Cardinals starter to set a career high in innings pitched after RHP Luke Weaver dealt a career-high 8.0 one-run frames in Thursday's win.
With the Cardinals win and a Tulsa Drillers loss on Friday, Springfield reclaims 1st place with only three games remaining in the 1st Half. Since Tulsa will only play 69 games in the half due to a rain out, winning percentage will determine the 1st Half Winner. The Cardinals are currently 38-29 with a .567 winning percentage, just ahead of the Drillers who are 37-29 with a .561 winning percentage.
After a pair of perfect innings from Poncedeleon (W, 4-4), the Cardinals gave their right-hander the lead in the top of the third. Facing LHP Matt Strahm (L, 2-6), SS Juan Herrera lined a one-out double to left field. One out later, LF Jonathan Rodriguez came through with a two-out RBI double down the left field line, scoring Herrera for the 1-0 lead.
Poncedeleon blanked the Naturals in the bottom of the third, before the Cardinals doubled the lead with two more doubles in the top of the fourth. All-Star 1B Luke Voit led off with a double, before Strahm dug in with back-to-back strikeouts. All-Star C Carson Kelly, though, drilled an RBI double down the right field line, bringing in Voit with two outs for the 2-0 lead.
Poncedeleon continued to dominate the Naturals bats, blanking Northwest Arkansas through 8.1 innings. He allowed only five hits and two walks, while striking out nine batters.
Back on the mound for the bottom of the ninth, Poncedeleon started the stanza with a groundout. However, LF Ryan O'Hearn worked a walk, followed by a single from 1B Frank Schwindel to put two men on and end Poncedeleon's stellar start. With the potential tying runs at first and second and only one away, RHP Josh Lucas (S, 8) took over on the mound. Lucas made quick work of C Allan de San Miguel with a three-pitch strikeout, before striking out 3B Jack Lopez to slam the door and close the 2-0 shutout win for Springfield.
