Springfield, MO – RHP Matt Pearce tossed a stifling seven one-run innings to help pace the Springfield Cardinals to the 5-2 win against the Tulsa Drillers before 3,918 fans at Hammons Field on Tuesday night.
St. Louis Cardinals RF Stephen Piscotty began his Rehab Assignment with Springfield, picking up an RBI and a walk while starting in right field.
The Cardinals (20-16) again wasted no time seizing an early lead, striking in the bottom of the first inning for the second straight night. Facing RHP Josh Sborz (L, 1-2), CF Oscar Mercado led off with an infield single to short. He quickly swiped his team-leading 13th base of the year, before moving to third on a groundout. Piscotty promptly brought in Mercado with an RBI groundout to third, lifting the Cardinals into the 1-0 lead.
Springfield added to the advantage in the bottom of the second. LF Anthony Garcia and 1B Casey Grayson led off with consecutive walks, before both moving up on a sacrifice bunt from 3B Jacob Wilson. The Drillers (18-19) intentionally walked C Gabriel Lino to load the bases and bring up RHP Matt Pearce, but a passed ball bounced away from Tulsa C Wynston Sawyer, allowing Garcia to sprint home for the 2-0 lead.
Pearce (W, 3-2) kept the two-run lead intact with scoreless work in the third and fourth, before the Cardinals powered further in front in the bottom of the fourth. With one away, Grayson chopped a single through the left side to reach base. Wilson then clobbered a two-run home run off the St. Louis Cardinals Manual Scoreboard beyond the left field fence, doubling the Springfield lead to 4-0.
Pearce added a fifth scoreless frame, but the Drillers broke through in the top of the sixth. With one away, 3B Edwin Rios slugged a solo shot to center field, slicing the Drillers deficit to 4-1.
The Cardinals, though, got the run right back in the bottom of the sixth against RHP Corey Copping. Leading off the frame, Grayson slugged a solo home run over the left field fence, his second long-ball of the year, increasing the lead back to four runs, 5-1.
Pearce completed his outing with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, wrapping up with just the one run on seven hits while striking out seven with no walks.
Tulsa chipped the deficit down in the top of the eighth inning. With LHP Ian McKinney making his first appearance of the season for Springfield, SS Tim Locastro started the stanza with a double. One out later, Rios struck again with an RBI single, bringing in Locastro to cut it to a three-run game, 5-2.
After getting out of the eighth with no further damage, McKinney then slammed the door with three straight strikeouts in the top of the ninth, closing the 5-2 win for the Cardinals.
