MIDLAND, Texas — After rallying to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, the Midland RockHounds walked off with a 5-4 win in 10 innings against the Springfield Cardinals before 4,035 fans at Security Bank Ballpark on Thursday night.
Cardinals LHP Austin Gomber was dominant in his start, dealing 7.0 shutout innings with only five hits and three walks while striking out a season-high nine batters.
While Gomber kept the ‘Hounds (2-5, 37-40) off the board, the Cardinals (3-4, 38-39) swung in front in the top of the fourth against RHP Heath Fillmyer. With one down and the bases empty, CF Oscar Mercado belted a solo home run to left field, his eighth long-ball of the year, lifting the Cardinals into the 1-0 lead.
Springfield added to the lead in the top of the fifth. RF Magneuris Sierra and SS Tommy Edman worked consecutive one-out walks, setting the table. One out later, 2B Bruce Caldwell ripped a two-out, two-run double into the right field corner, bringing in both runners for the 3-0 advantage.
The Cardinals further padded the lead with a fourth run in the top of the sixth. Leading off the inning, brand-new Cardinals 1B John Nogowski, a former Midland RockHound, crushed a solo home run to left field, stretching the lead to 4-0.
Gomber kept the lead intact through his seven frames, but the RockHounds rallied in the bottom of the eighth against the bullpen. LHP Ian McKinney started the frame on the mound, but back-to-back walks and an RBI single from 1B Viosergy Rosa led to RHP Andrew Morales taking over. Morales retired his first batter, but DH Andy Paz reached on a fielder’s choice that did not record an out, loading the bases with one away. C Sean Murphy bounced an RBI single through the middle, before an RBI fielder’s choice from SS Richie Martin with an error on the play brought the ‘Hounds within one run, 4-3. An RBI groundout from 3B Branden Cogswell then plated Paz from third base, completing the comeback and tying the game, 4-4.
Both sides posted a scoreless ninth, before Midland concocted a concluding charge in the bottom of the 10th. After a leadoff single, RHP Landon Beck (L, 1-1) induced a double play to empty the bases with two down. However, Martin extended the inning with a two-out walk, followed by a base hit from Cogswell to put runners at first and second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, before the Cardinals intentionally walked CF B.J. Boyd. With the bases full and two outs, LF Jordan Tarsovich worked an RBI walk to force in the game-winning run, sending the RockHounds to the 5-4 walk-off win in 10 innings.
