Frisco, TX – After the Springfield Cardinals won the first two games of the series, the Frisco RoughRiders avoided the sweep with a 10-2 win before 7,747 fans at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Saturday night.
After scoring only three runs through the first two games of the series, the RoughRiders (1-2) jumped in front with five runs in the bottom of the first against LHP Austin Gomber (L, 0-1). Consecutive RBI doubles from 2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa and 3B Juremi Profar started the scoring, followed later in the frame by a two-run single by CF Jose Cardona. After the two-run base hit, LHP Chandler Hawkins took over on the mound for Gomber. SS Michael De Leon reached on an error to load the bases, before LF Scott Heineman worked an RBI walk, capping the rally for a 5-0 lead.
The Cardinals (2-1) came right back with their first run in the top of the second against LHP Yohander Mendez (W, 1-0). Leading off the inning, 3B Bruce Caldwell clobbered a solo home run to center field, his first homer of the year to make it 5-1.
The RoughRiders, though, opened the lead back to five runs with a long-ball of their own in the bottom of the fourth. With one away, Kiner-Falefa got into one to left-center field, clearing the fence with a solo home run to stretch it to a 6-1 Frisco advantage.
Springfield again sliced the deficit down, striking for one run in the bottom of the fourth. CF Oscar Mercado led off with a sharp single to left field, before moving to second one out later when DH Eliezer Alvarez was hit by a pitch. Mendez battled back to get RF Blake Drake on a fly out, but Caldwell came through with a two-out RBI single, scoring Mercado to bring it down to a 6-2 deficit.
The ‘Riders once again had a retort, this time in the bottom of the seventh. Facing RHP Kevin Herget, Profar led off the inning with a solo blast to left, increasing the Frisco lead to 7-2. 1B Eric Aguilera followed the homer with a double, moving to third when Herget induced a groundout to first base. RHP Pedro Echemendia took over with one on and one down, but hit DH Matt Lipka to start his outing. Lipka swiped second, before both he and Aguilera scored on a two-run double by RF Royce Bolinger. One out later, SS Michael De Leon brought in Bolinger with a two-out RBI double for a 10-2 Frisco lead.
After three perfect relief innings from RHP James Dykstra, Frisco RHP Nick Gardewine tossed a scoreless ninth to close the RoughRiders win by the final of 10-2.
Opening Day at Hammons Field is just 5 days away on Thursday, April 13
The Cardinals continue the road trip in Midland on Sunday at 4pm. 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.
