RHP Trey Nielsen matched a career high with eight strikeouts through six scoreless innings, leading the Springfield Cardinals to the 1-0 shutout win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 4,822 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Saturday evening. It marks the second straight shutout tossed by Springfield, as the Cardinals win the series, 3-games-to-1.
With the win, the Cardinals will hang on to sole possession of 1st place by at least a half-game over the Tulsa Drillers. The Cardinals and Drillers will play two head-to-head games in Tulsa on Sunday and Monday to close the 1st Half, with Springfield only needing to win one of the next two games to clinch the 1st Half Championship.
The Cardinals (39-29) swung into the early lead with the game's lone run in the top of the second against LHP Eric Skoglund (L, 3-5). With one away, RF Anthony Garcia started the charge with a single to center field. All-Star DH Carson Kelly followed with a double to put both runners in scoring position, before C Michael Ohlman worked a walk to load the bases. 3B Mason Katz, in his first game back from High-A Palm Beach, then shot an RBI single through the right side, bringing in Garcia for the 1-0 lead.
Cardinals RHP Trey Nielsen (W, 6-6) kept the one-run lead intact through six scoreless innings in his stifling start against the Naturals (29-39). Nielsen matched a season and career high with eight strikeouts, allowing just two hits and two walks through his dominant shutout performance.
The bullpen picked up right where Nielsen left off, starting with two perfect innings from RHP Pedro Echemendia in the seventh and eighth. RHP John Brebbia then started the bottom of the ninth, but issued a walk to C Cameron Gallagher to begin the frame. The next batter, 1B Ryan O'Hearn, ripped a grounder inside the third base line that Katz made a diving stop on, before firing to second base to get the lead runner in a fielder's choice. With a man at first and one down, RHP Josh Lucas (S, 9) took over on the mound. Lucas promptly struck out DH Frank Schwindel, before inducing a game-ending fly out to center from CF Bubba Starling, closing the 1-0 shutout win for the Cardinals.
