RHP J.C. Sulbaran dealt eight innings with only one run on two hits, helping lead the 1st-Half North Division Champion Springfield Cardinals to the 5-1 win against the Frisco RoughRiders before 3,283 fans at Hammons Field on Thursday night. The Cardinals took the series against Frisco, 2-games-to-1, and improved their August record to 7-2.
The RoughRiders (18-29, 56-60) opened the early advantage with one run in the top of the first against RHP J.C. Sulbaran (W, 3-2). With two away, 2B Andy Ibanez pulled a solo home run to left field, propelling the Riders into the 1-0 lead.
Sulbaran bounced back with scoreless work in the second and third, before the Cardinals (23-23, 64-52) battled back in the bottom of the third. With one away, SS Paul DeJong ripped his 20th double of the year to left-center field, starting the rally. 3B Jonathan Rodriguez and 1B Luke Voit both followed with free passes, loading the bases with only one away. RF Blake Drake then battled out an RBI walk, forcing in DeJong to tie the game and keep the bases full. C Luis Cruz swung the Cardinals in front with an RBI base hit up the middle, before an RBI sacrifice fly by 2B Allen Staton opened the Cardinals new lead to 3-1.
Sulbaran continued to dominate the RoughRiders, retiring 19 of his last 20 batters with the only exception being an error in the fourth. The right-hander finished his outing with 13 straight outs, closing his eight-inning performance with just the one run on two hits, no walks and four strikeouts.
After Sulbaran's perfect top of the eighth, the Cardinals padded the lead in the bottom of the eighth. With one down, Cruz picked up his third single of the game to reach base. 2B Allen Staton then tapped the ball back towards the mound that led to a three-base throwing error on RHP Jefri Hernandez, allowing Cruz to score all the way from first and Staton the race to third. After a walk from LF Vaughn Bryan put runners at the corners, DH Jhohan Acevedo brought in Staton with an RBI groundout, opening the lead to 5-1.
RHP Ronnie Shaban took over for the top of the ninth and quickly slammed the door, dealing a perfect final frame to close the 5-1 win for Springfield.
