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The St. Louis Cardinals topped the Springfield Cardinals, 5-2, to claim the Route 66 Rumble Exhibition Game at Hammons Field on Friday night.
St. Louis RHP Mike Leake (W) made the start and dealt seven one-run innings, scattering just six hits while striking out eight with no walks.
Springfield broke through against Leake in the bottom of the third, seizing the early advantage. CF Adolis Garcia led off the inning with a base hit, before moving to second on a groundout to second base. Garcia then raced home from second on an RBI single by 2B Eliezer Alvarez up the middlie, lifting Springfield into the 1-0 lead.
CLICK FOR ST. LOUIS CARDINALS VS. SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS IN-GAME PHOTOS
Springfield RHP Jack Flaherty kept the lead alive with a scoreless fourth inning, wrapping up his four-inning start with no runs on only four hits and two walks while striking out one.
Springfield LHP Austin Gomber (L) followed with a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen, but St. Louis catapulted in front in the top of the seventh. C Alberto Rosario led off the inning with a double, followed by a single from SS Wilfredo Tovar. CF Dickie Joe Thon brought in Rosario with a game-tying RBI fielder’s choice, evening it at 1-1. LF Matt Adams pulled a double to move Thon to third, before both runners came home on a go-ahead two-run single from 2B Greg Garcia for the 3-1 lead.
CLICK HERE FOR ST. LOUIS CARDINALS VS. SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS PREGAME PHOTOS
St. Louis stretched the advantage in the top of the eighth. After RHP Pedro Echemendia retired the inning’s first two batters, Rosario extended the stanza with a two-out walk. Tovar singled himself on, before Thon reached on an error that kept the inning alive and brought home Rosario. With two on and two down, Adams scorched an RBI single to left field, plating Tovar to make it 5-1.
RHP Sandy Alcantara struck out the side for St. Louis in the bottom of the eighth, but Springfield attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth against RHP Dakota Hudson. With two away and the bases empty, 1B Casey Grayson kept the game alive with a single. SS Alex Mejia moved Grayson to second with a base hit of his own, putting two on for C Dennis Ortega. Ortega ripped an RBI single through the middle, scoring Grayson from second and bringing the tying run to the plate. With two on and two down, CF Adolis Garcia skied a fly ball to the track in right field, but RF Austin Wilson ran it down for the final out, closing the 5-2 win for St. Louis.
Click here for the complete box score from the Route 66 Rumble.
Opening Day at Hammons Field is just 13 days away on Thursday, April 13
The Springfield Cardinals open the 2017 Regular Season in Frisco on Thursday, April 6 at 7:05pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote’s Sports Cafe Pregame Show.
The Cardinals then come home for Opening Day at Hammons Field on Thursday, April 13. Don’t miss any of the fun with the Great Southern Bank Magnet Schedule Giveaway for 3,500 fans before the game and the Opening Day Fireworks Celebration after the game. It is also a Klement’s “Buck a Brat” Night with delicious Klement’s bratwursts for just $1 each. First Pitch against Frisco is 7:10pm, gates open at 6:10pm.
For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.
