Andrew Buchbinder (Springfield Media Relations) Springfield, MO – RHP Matt Pearce dealt a dominant eight one-run innings to help pace the Springfield Cardinals to the 9-1 blowout win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 3,131 fans at Hammons Field on Thursday night.
With a bunt single in the bottom of the third inning, Cardinals CF Oscar Mercado extended his hitting streak to 19 straight games, setting a new Springfield Cardinals all-time record for longest streak in team history.
The Cardinals (13-12) seized the early lead in the bottom of the third against LHP Matt Tenuta (L, 1-1). SS Alex Mejia rifled a leadoff single to center field, followed by Mercado’s bunt base hit. After a double play lineout, RF Adolis Garcia slammed a two-out RBI double to left-center field, scoring Mercado all the way from first base for the 1-0 lead.
Springfield added to the advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one down, C Gabriel Lino worked a walk before racing to third on a single by DH Anthony Garcia. An RBI single through the left side from 1B Casey Grayson brought in Lino, followed by an RBI double from Mejia to score Garcia. One out later, LF Nick Martini came through with a two-out, two-run single through the middle, scoring Grayson and Mejia to make it 5-0.
The Cardinals kept adding to the lead in the bottom of the fifth against LHP Luis Rico. 2B Bruce Caldwell started the inning with his second single of the night. He then took second on a wild pitch before moving to third on a fly out from Lino. Caldwell came in the final ninety feet on an RBI single from DH Anthony Garcia, grounded right back up the middle to increase the lead to 6-0.
Meanwhile, Springfield RHP Matt Pearce (W, 1-2) continued to post scoreless frame after scoreless frame, blanking the Naturals (14-11) through his first five innings. However, Northwest Arkansas broke through with a two-out, solo home run from 1B Samir Duenez in the top of the sixth to shave the Cardinals lead to 6-1.
The Cardinals countered with a run in the bottom of the sixth, stretching the advantage right back to six runs. Mejia led off with his second double of the night, increasing his league-leading total of two-base hits to 12 on the year. Two outs later, RF Adolis Garcia lined an RBI base knock to center field, plating Mejia to make it a 7-1 Springfield lead.
Pearce took care of the top of the seventh with a 1-2-3 frame, before the Cardinals added further insurance in the bottom of the seventh. With Caldwell at second base and one down, DH Anthony Garcia launched a towering, two-run home run to left-center field for the 9-1 advantage.
Pearce capped his evening with a scoreless top of the eighth inning, finishing his season-high eight frames with one run on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
RHP Daniel Bard took over for the top of the ninth and picked up right where Pearce left off, dealing a scoreless final frame to close the decisive 9-1 win for Springfield.
