Cards Surge Past Pulaski In Fourth

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Johnson City Cardinals surged past the Pulaski Mariners 6-5 on Thursday night at Cardinal Park. The Cardinals used a strong fourth inning where they scored all six of their runs to help them improve to 13-13 on the season.

Pulaski (14-13) got on the board first and jumped ahead quickly with consistent play. The Mariners scored the first run of the game in the second inning then added two runs in each the third and fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, though, hits started to fall in the Cardinals favor. In the first three innings Pulaski starter, Zack Littell (2-3) only allowed one hit with three strikeouts against Johnson City batters. Casey Turgeon led off the fourth frame with an infield single. Blake Drake then added just the third hit of the game for Cardinals by placing a single into left field. Casey Grayson then walked for the eleventh time this season to load the bases. Cole Lankford knocked the first two runs in with a single down the left field line to make it 5-2. Grayson advanced to second on the hit by Lankford then made it to third safely on a single by Jesus Ustariz to load the bases once again. Jose Godoy then grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Grayson to make it 5-3, while Ustariz was retired on the force at second. With runners at first and third, Carlos Torres picked up the fourth RBI for the Cardinals with a line drive into center field to score Lankford. Godoy and Torres both moved into scoring position after a wild pitch during Anthony Ray's at-bat. Ray was then able to help both runners score as he singled to right field for the third straight game.

The Cardinals sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and had six hits, all for singles, in the inning. The big inning put Johnson City ahead and also helped them secure just their fourth win of the season after a letting the opponent score first. The Cards' pitching staff also recorded a season-high 16 strikeouts on the combined effort from Juan Perez, Sasha Kuebel, Jonathan Escudero, and Ismael Brito.

Kuebel (1-0) earned the victory for his three innings of work with six strikeouts. Perez, the starter, also went three innings and had five strikeouts for the Cardinals. Brito picked up his fourth save of the year for two scoreless innings of work with three strikeouts, including a game-ending strikeout with runners at first and second for Pulaski. Littell was the losing pitcher for the Mariners.

The rubber match for the two teams is set for tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Cardinal Park, where the Johnson City staff will attempt to break the world record for high-fives in one night.