Springfield, MO – RHP Johnny Walter carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, but the Midland RockHounds rallied late for the 3-1 win against the 1st-Half North Division Champion Springfield Cardinals before 5,753 fans at Hammons Field on Friday night.
Walter (L, 0-4) dominated the RockHounds (33-15, 66-52) through his first eight innings, surrendering only three walks while not allowing a single hit. After retiring 10 in a row early in the game, he sat down 13 batters in a row leading into the ninth inning.
However, the Hounds also received great pitching from RHP Ben Bracewell, who tossed four one-hit frames to start the game. Bracewell was followed by three scoreless innings from RHP Corey Walter, who combined with Bracewell to retire 19 straight outs from the third batter in the first inning through the second batter in the seventh.
Midland RHP Sam Bragg (W, 3-3) kept it a scoreless tie with a scoreless bottom of the eighth, before the RockHounds broke through in the top of the ninth. Leading off the inning against Walter, CF Danny Oh broke up the no-hitter with a double to left field. 2B Franklin Barreto followed with a single, leading to RHP Kevin Herget taking over on the mound. After Barreto stole second base, Herget intentionally walked C Beau Taylor to set up the force with the bases loaded. DH Tyler Marincov, though, placed a two-run single to right field, bringing in Oh and Barreto for the 2-0 lead. One out later with runners at second and third, Herget intentionally walked 1B Viosergy Rosa to face LF J.P. Sportman. Herget won the battle against Sportman with a strikeout, retiring the second out of the inning. However, with SS Yairo Munoz batting, catcher's interference was called on C Luis Cruz as Munoz checked his swing on a pitch. The contested call resulted in Munoz being sent to first on interference, advancing all three runners and forcing in Taylor for the 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals (23-24, 64-53) refused to go down quietly, getting on the board against Bragg in the bottom of the ninth. With two down, 1B Luke Voit crushed a solo home run to left-center field, his 17th long-ball and 61st RBI of the year, getting the Cardinals on the board. Bragg, however, battled back with a game-ending strikeout and the Hounds hung on for the 3-1 win.
Click here for the complete box score from Friday's game.
