Cardinals crush RockHounds, 15-5

Midland, TX - The Springfield Cardinals matched a season high with 15 runs, blowing away the Midland RockHounds, 15-5, before 5,304 fans at Citibank Ballpark on Friday night.

The RockHounds (27-27) struck first against LHP Ryan Sherriff (W, 1-1) in the bottom of the first frame. With one on and one away, 1B Anthony Aliotti drove an RBI double to deep right field for the 1-0 lead. However, that was all Sherriff would allow throughout the remainder of his five-inning start, claiming his first Double-A win.

The Cardinals (26-26) responded right away in the top of the second against RHP Sean Murphy (L, 2-2). Springfield loaded the bases with no outs on a walk by DH Ruben Gotay and consecutive singles from 1B Xavier Scruggs and RF Adam Melker. 2B Starlin Rodriguez got the Cards on the board with an RBI free pass, forcing in Gotay from third. Scruggs then darted in on a double play ball hit by 3B Luis Mateo, lifting Springfield in front, 2-1.

The Cardinals blew the lead open with five tallies in the top of the third. With runners at second and third and two outs, Gotay lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, plating LF Mike O'Neill for the frame's first run. Back-to-back walks by Scruggs and Melker loaded the bases for Rodriguez again, who this time drove a grand slam over the left field fence, belting the Cardinals in front, 7-1.

Springfield stretched the lead further with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. With Scruggs at second base and two down in the fifth, Melker drove an RBI double to deep right-center for the eighth run, before SS Jake Lemmerman brought in C Audry Perez with an RBI single in the sixth, making it 9-1.

Midland managed to chip the deficit down in the bottom of the seventh against LHP Justin Wright and RHP Heath Wyatt. With two on and no outs, Wyatt took over on the mound, but was welcomed by a three-run homer from 2B/3B Tyler Ladendorf. C David Freitas and LF Conner Crumbliss followed with a single and a double, respectively, putting two runners back on base. Wyatt retired the subsequent three batters, but uncorked a wild pitch in the process that enabled Freitas to score, cutting the Cardinals lead to 9-5.

However, Springfield increased the lead right away in the top of the eighth, before icing it in the top of the ninth. An RBI fielder's choice hit into by O'Neill in the eighth scratched across the Cardinals 10th run, and then Springfield exploded for five more in the ninth. CF Tommy Pham started the ninth with a walk, before trotting home on a two-run homer by Gotay. One out later, Melker drove a solo shot over the left field wall to stretch it to 13-5. After a strikeout, Mateo singled and Perez doubled, and then O'Neill brought both home with a two-run single, capping the onslaught and accounting for the 15-5 final score in the Cardinals victory.

Click here to view the complete box score from Friday's game.

Springfield continues the road trip in Midland on Saturday at 7pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

The Cards then kick off a four-game home series at Hammons Field vs. the Arkansas Travelers on Tuesday., June 4. Tuesday's game is a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day, and 2,000 kids 48 inches and under will also receive a Six Flags St. Louis Free Kids Admission Pass. First Pitch is 7:09pm, gates open at 6:09pm.

The series will also feature a Wednesday night showdown between the Cards and Travs at 7:09pm on Wednesday, June 5, a Johnsonville "Buck a Brat" Night on Thursday, June 6 and a can't-miss AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks Show featuring Kids Movies Theme Songs after the game on Friday, June 7.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Cake Pop Company Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here for the Cardinals full 2013 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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