Springfield, MO – The 1st-Half North Division Champion Springfield Cardinals topped the San Antonio Missions, 2-1, before 6,477 fans at Hammons Field on Saturday night.
Cardinals LHP Austin Gomber, making his Double-A debut, and Missions RHP T.J. Weir battled through four scoreless innings apiece to start the contest, before San Antonio (6-10, 28-58) broke through in the top of the fifth. With one down, C Ryan Miller provided a double to start the charge. One out later, CF Franchy Cordero sliced an RBI single up the middle to bring in Miller for the 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals (8-7, 49-36), though, came right back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one down, 3B Paul DeJong slugged his team-leading 15th home run for his team-best 53rd RBI, squaring the score at 1-1.
Gomber kept the tie intact with a scoreless sixth inning, closing his debut with only the one run allowed on four hits while striking out five. The Cardinals 2015 Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Year joined Springfield from High-A Palm Beach on Friday, before taking the mound tonight.
RHP Josh Lucas (W, 4-2) kept the tie intact through his two innings on the mound, before Springfield jumped in front in the bottom of the eighth. With RHP Yimmi Brasoban (L, 2-1) on the mound, CF Blake Drake opened the frame with a triple to left-center field. After a groundout, the Missions intentionally walked LF Jonathan Rodriguez, setting up runners at the corners for 2B Allen Staton. With Staton at-bat, Brasoban uncorked a wild pitch that bounced away from C Ryan Miller, enabling Drake to sprint home and score the go-ahead run for the 2-1 lead.
RHP Ronnie Shaban (S, 6) took over for the top of the ninth and promptly slammed the door with a perfect final frame, closing the 2-1 win for Springfield.
