Drillers strike late for 8-4 win

Springfield, MO - The Tulsa Drillers struck late for the 8-4 comeback win against the Springfield Cardinals before 4,679 fans at ONEOK Field on Monday night. The Cardinals will remain tied for 2nd place with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, only trailing the Arkansas Travelers by 2.0 games with seven contests remaining. Springfield starts a four-game series in Arkansas on Tuesday at 7:10pm.

The Drillers (30-33, 64-67) struck first in the bottom of the first against RHP Seth Blair. CF Delta Cleary, Jr. started the inning with a single, before moving around to third on a one-out base hit by 1B Kyle Parker. With runners at the corners, C Dustin Garneau lifted an RBI sacrifice fly in foul ground that brought in Cleary, Jr. for the 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals (31-32, 64-67) came right back with two runs in the top of the fourth inning against LHP Tyler Matzek. After a double play with runners retired at the plate and third base, 2B Matt Williams stood alone on the bases at first. He swiped second base, before Blair worked a walk to put two on and extend the inning. CF James Ramsey then launched a two-run double into the left field corner, scoring both runners for the 2-1 lead.

After Tulsa SS Joey Wong tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, Springfield swung right back in front in the top of the fifth. With two down, RF Stephen Piscotty kept the inning alive with a single, before moving to second on a C Cody Stanley walk. LF Starlin Rodriguez then ripped an RBI base hit through the left side, scoring Piscotty for the 3-2 advantage.

The Cardinals then stretched the lead with one run in the top of the sixth against RHP Leuris Gomez (W, 4-1). With one away, Ramsey worked a walk to get a man on. One out later, 3B Ruben Gotay crushed an RBI double to left-center field, scoring Ramsey from first base to make it 4-2.

After an RBI groundout by LF Juan Crousset in the bottom of the sixth brought the Drillers within one run, 4-3, they completed the comeback with three runs in the seventh. After a walk drawn by Cleary, Jr. started the inning, Blair gave way to RHP Jose Almarante (L, 2-2). 2B Angelys Nina welcomed Almarante to the mound with a single, before an RBI base hit by 1B Kyle Parker tied the game at 4-4. After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk loaded the bases with one away, 3B Tim Smalling lined a two-run double to right-center field, lifting the Drillers ahead, 6-4.

Tulsa added two insurance runs against RHP Heath Wyatt in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two on and two down, RF Tyler Kuhn drove a two-run triple to right-center field, increasing the late lead to 8-4.

Gotay led off the top of the ninth with a double, but RHP Juan Gonzalez retired the next three Cardinals in order, closing the 8-4 win for Tulsa.

Click here for the complete box score from Monday's game.

The Cardinals continue the road trip in Arkansas on Tuesday at 7:10pm. 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.



Springfield returns home for the final home series of the 2013 Regular Season, starting on Saturday, August 31. That night will feature the Mercy Knit Scarf Giveaway (2,500), along with AM Pyrotechnics End of Season Fireworks. The Cardinals will also be wearing Teal Pinstripe Specialty Jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit GYNCA. First Pitch is 6:09pm, gates open at 5:09pm.



The Cardinals then take on the Tulsa Drillers again on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6:09pm for the Purina Bark in the Park, when all fans can bring their dogs to the game. The night will feature a pregame pet parade, with all fans that bring pets invited to march around the field. To participate in the parade, please arrive at the ballpark by 5:30pm.

The Sunday, Sept. 1 game will also feature the Purina Pet Food Bowl Mat Giveaway for 2,500 fans. Sunday's game will be a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with free ice cream for kids before the game, and then all kids can run the bases after the game. Gates open at 5:09pm.

The Cardinals then wrap up the 2013 Regular Season on Monday, Sept. 2 with a 12:09pm First Pitch. The Labor Day ballgame is Fan Appreciation Day, with all fans in attendance receiving a free ticket voucher for a 2014 game.

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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