Springfield, MO – The Springfield Cardinals won the series opener against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, 5-1, before 3,732 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Tuesday night. With the win, the Cardinals increase their lead for 1st place in the North Division to 2.5 games over the Naturals.
RHP Andrew Morales started the game for Springfield and dealt three scoreless innings, but left after the third when the final out of the inning came on a comebacker that hit his side on the mound. RHP Chris Perry took over to start the fourth and picked up right where Morales left off, dealing a scoreless bottom of the fourth.
With the scoreless tie intact heading into the fifth, the Cardinals (14-11) broke through against RHP Jake Junis. After an inning-opening strikeout, 3B Paul DeJong clobbered a solo home run to left field, his second long-ball of the year, swinging Springfield ahead, 1-0.
Perry kept the narrow lead intact through the fifth and sixth, but the Naturals (11-13) got on the board with an unearned run in the seventh. With one on and two down, Perry gave way to RHP John Brebbia (W, 1-0). Brebbia induced a tapper to the left side of the infield from DH Jack Lopez, which ended up being an infield single that led to a throwing error on SS Alex Mejia, enabling 1B Frank Schwindel to score from second for the 1-1 tie.
The Cardinals responded right away, striking in the top of the eighth against RHP Yender Caramo (L, 1-3). With one away, LF Breyvic Valera sparked the rally with a bunt single. He then raced from first to third on a single up the middle from CF Harrison Bader. With runners at the corners and one down, Mejia placed an RBI groundout to the left side of the infield, enabling Valera to dart home for the go-ahead run. 2B Bruce Caldwell and 1B Luke Voit then connected for consecutive two-out RBI singles, increasing the new lead to 4-1.
After the Cardinals added an unearned run in the top of the ninth, Brebbia slammed the door with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth, closing the decisive 5-1 win for Springfield.
Click here for the complete box score from Tuesday's game.
