Andrew Buchbinder (Springfield Cardinals Media Relations) Springfield, MO – LF Anthony Garcia drove in four runs to help lead the Springfield Cardinals to the 7-2 win against the Tulsa Drillers before 3,121 fans at Hammons Field on Monday night.
After a scoreless top of the first from RHP Dakota Hudson (W, 2-2), the Cardinals (19-16) swung in front in the bottom of the first against RHP Andrew Sopko. CF Oscar Mercado and SS Alex Mejia worked consecutive walks, followed by an infield single from RF Adolis Garcia. With the bases loaded and no outs, 2B Bruce Caldwell forced in the first run with an RBI walk, bringing in Mercado. LF Anthony Garcia followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, enabling Mejia to tag and score for the 2-0 lead.
Hudson kept Tulsa (18-18) in check through his first four scoreless innings, before the Drillers broke through in the top of the fifth. With two down and the bases clear, CF Johan Mieses extended the inning with a walk. SS Michael Ahmed then skied a two-run shot beyond the left-center field fence, squaring the score at 2-2.
The Cardinals countered right away in the bottom of the fifth against LHP Edward Paredes (L, 0-1). C Jesse Jenner started the stanza with a double to left-center field. Hudson moved Jenner to third base with a sacrifice bunt. Jenner then raced home when a wild pitch bounced away from C Kyle Farmer, lifting the Cardinals back into the lead, 3-2.
Hudson kept the Cardinals in front with a scoreless sixth, which wrapped up with an excellent 4-6-3 double play turned by 2B Bruce Caldwell and SS Alex Mejia with the bases loaded.
RHP Pedro Echemendia took over for the top of the seventh. With one away, Ahmed doubled himself on. He then tried to score on a single to right field, but RF Adolis Garcia fired the ball home and threw out Ahmed, keeping the Cardinals in front, 3-2.
Springfield then padded the lead with a four-run rally in the bottom of the eighth. With one away, Mercado singled himself aboard. He then swiped second, drawing an errant throw from C Kyle Farmer that skipped into center field and allowed Mercado to get to third on the play. Mejia brought in Mercado with an RBI single through the middle, followed by a base hit from RF Adolis Garcia. A balk committed by RHP Yaisel Sierra advanced the runners to second and third, before the Drillers intentionally walked 2B Bruce Caldwell. With the bases loaded, LF Anthony Garcia rifled a bases-clearing, three-run double into the right field corner, opening the lead to 7-2.
Making his Double-A debut from High-A Palm Beach, RHP Landon Beck took over for the top of the ninth and worked around a pair of hits to close the 7-2 win for Springfield.
