SPRINGFIELD, MO- The Cardinals used a three run sixth inning to defeat the Naturals 5-1 on Saturday night at Hammons Field. The Naturals will look to earn a split of the four-game series on Sunday.

Carlo Testa made sure that the Naturals got on the board first in game three of the four game series. He blasted a solo home run off of Carlos Matrinez in the top of the second inning to make it a 1-0 game. The home run was the eleventh of the season for Testa and his first since June 19.

The Cardinals' offense managed just one hit against Naturals' starter Mike Montgomery (0-1) until the bottom of the fourth inning. Oscar Taveras hit a one-out single to center field to give the Cardinals a base runner. After Montgomery got Jamie Romak to ground out, Chris Swauger put the Cardinals back in front, 2-1 with a two-run home run. The home run was the eleventh of the season for Swauger and his second of the series.

The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The first coming on an RBI double from Romak, and the others on a two-run single by Xavier Scruggs to push thier lead to 5-1.

Martinez (2-2) went six innings for the Cardinals allowing just two hits and one run, while walking to and striking out three. His counterpart Montgomery went six innings surrendering six hits and five runs, while striking out six. The start was the first of the season in Double-A for Montgomery, after starting the year with Triple-A Omaha.

The Naturals will wrap up their four-game series against the Springfield Cardinals on Sunday at 6:08 PM. They will send right-hander Yordano Ventura (0-0, 0.00) to the mound to make his Double-A debut, against the Cardinals right-hander Seth Maness (6-1, 1.96). The game can be heard on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.