The 1st-Half North Division Champion Springfield Cardinals won their third straight game with a 3-1 victory against the Corpus Christi Hooks before 5,751 fans at Whataburger Field on Thursday night.
The Cardinals (3-3, 44-32) swung out of the scoreless tie with a three-run rally in the top of the second against RHP Cy Sneed (L, 3-2). 3B Paul DeJong worked a walk to lead off the inning, before a base hit from C Carson Kelly. 1B Michael Ohlman then brought both runners home with a two-run double scorched to right-center field, swinging Springfield in front. One out later, Ohlman came flying in on an RBI base hit from SS Juan Herrera, increasing the Cardinals advantage to 3-0.
The Hooks (4-3, 51-26) chipped into the deficit right away with their first run against RHP J.C. Sulbaran (W, 1-1) in the bottom of the second. Leading off the inning, 3B J.D. Davis powered a solo shot to left field, slicing the Cardinals lead to 3-1.
Sulbaran kept the two-run lead intact throughout the remainder of his start, which he finished with four straight scoreless innings. The right-hander wrapped up with only the one run allowed through six innings, scattering five hits while striking out seven.
Cardinals RHP Pedro Echemendia picked up right where Sulbaran had left off with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, before LHP Justin Wright struck out the side in a three-batter eighth.
RHP Kevin Herget (S, 6) took over for the ninth and slammed the door with a perfect final frame, closing the 3-1 win for the Cardinals. The three relievers combined to retire the final nine Hooks in a row with three perfect innings out of the bullpen.
