'Hounds Edge Cards 5-4
Springfield sent lefty Tyler Lyons to the mound in his regular season debut against former Cardinals' farm hand Gary Daley Jr. of the RockHounds.
After two scoreless inning, Midland was first to crack the score column. With one out, Chris Crumbliss walked on four pitches, stole second and moved to third on an error. Leonardo Gil then lofted a single into shallow left field to score the first run of the game.
Springfield threatened in the 3rd getting a base runner to second with two outs, but failed to push the run across as Oscar Taveras struck out to end the inning. They'd get another chance in the 5th when Raniel Rosario singled to center and stole second base, but Kotlen Wong bounced out to third to end the frame.
Lyons would last four and two thirds innings allowing just the one run on four hits while walking four and striking out five.
Justin Wright came in out of the Cardinals bullpen to end the fifth inning before running into control issues in the 6th as he walked the bases loaded with one out. Jesse Simpson would enter inheriting three runners and attempting to keep the deficit at just one run. But, number nine hitter, Dusty Coleman, had another idea as he belted a grand slam home run to right field to give Midland a 5-0 advantage.
Daley was terrific tossing six shutout innings allowing just two hits while striking out four. He gave way to Paul Smyth in the 7th who promptly walked the first two batters of the inning. After a strikeout, Raniel Rosario belted a three-run homer to left, his first of the year, to bring the Cardinals within two runs, 5-3.
The Cardinals had another scoring opportunity in the 8th after a pair of walks with one out, but the Midland bullpen struck out two to end the frame.
In the 9th, Kolten Wong blasted a two-out solo homer to bring the Cardinals within one and Oscar Taveras followed with a double putting the tying run at second base. Xavier Scruggs came up against Midland closer Jonathan Ortiz, but bounced back to the mound to end the game with Springfield falling a run short.
Springfield will conclude their series with Midland tomorrow afternoon at 12:08pm. Every Tuesday at Hammons Field is a Dollar Dog Day featuring $1 hot dogs thanks to our friends at Great Southern Bank and tomorrow is the first of seven. So, call in sick or even bring your boss because you won't want to miss a moment of the Springfield Cardinals! The Cardinals will send righty Scott Gorgen to the hill against AJ Griffin of the RockHounds. Tickets are available by visiting the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at springfieldcardinals.com or by calling (417) 863-2143.
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