SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Cardinals out-slugged the Frisco RoughRiders, 12-8, before 3,622 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday evening. With the win, Springfield improves to 4-1 on the homestand and wins their second straight series.
After Cardinals LHP Austin Gomber (W, 4-6) retired his first seven batters to start, the RoughRiders (8-9, 39-48) opened the early lead with three runs in the top of the third. With two on and two down, CF Scott Heineman skied a three-run home run to center field, opening the 3-0 lead for Frisco.
RoughRiders RHP Pedro Payano had put in a pair of scoreless innings, but gave way to LHP Shane McCain in the bottom of the third and the Cardinals (10-7, 45-42) jumped on the southpaw. 1B John Nogowski started the stanza with a double, before moving to third on a groundout. CF Magneuris Sierra brought in Nogowski with an RBI single, and then quickly raced in from first base himself on an RBI double by rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong. With one on and one away, LF Randy Arozarena belted a go-ahead two-run home run to left field, his first-career Double-A long-ball, lifting the Cardinals into the 4-3 lead.
Gomber rattled off a stretch of nine straight outs to keep the lead intact, until Frisco dealt another home run in the top of the sixth. With two away, LF Luke Tendler worked a walk and C Jose Trevino singled, extending the inning with two on. 1B Eric Aguilera followed with a three-run blast over the left field fence, catapulting the RoughRiders back into the 6-4 advantage.
The Cardinals, however, had another immediate answer, striking in the bottom of the sixth against RHP Connor Sadzeck (L, 4-7). After an inning-opening strikeout, C Andrew Knizner singled himself on and moved to third on a double from RF Anthony Garcia. 3B Jacob Wilson came through with a game-tying, two-run double to left field, scoring both runners and making it 6-6. After a base hit from Nogowski, SS Tommy Edman placed an RBI infield single to the right side, scoring Wilson to lift Springfield ahead, 7-6. One out later with two runners on, Wong unloaded a towering three-run blast to the right-center field berm, opening the Cardinals advantage to 10-6.
Gomber finished his outing with a quick and scoreless top of the seventh, before Springfield padded the lead in the bottom of the seventh against LHP Brady Feigl. With one down, Knizner connected for another single, his third hit of the night. After a strikeout for the second out in the inning, Wilson singled Knizner to third, putting runners at the corners with two away. Nogowski then notched his third hit of the night, an RBI single to score Knizner for the 11-6 lead. Edman followed with a free pass, reloading the bases and keeping the inning alive for Sierra. Sierra followed suit with an RBI walk of his own, forcing in Wilson to stretch the lead to 12-6.
Frisco refused to go down without a fight, plating a pair of runs in the top of the eighth against rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals LHP Kevin Siegrist. With two on and one down, back-to-back RBI singles by C Jose Trevino and Aguilera brought the RoughRiders within four runs. Siegrist, though, bounced back and retired the next two in a row, closing the eighth with Springfield ahead, 12-8.
RHP Andrew Morales took over for the top of the ninth and worked around a double and a walk, posting a scoreless top of the ninth to close the 12-8 win for the Cardinals.
