Hald and Cards lasso RoughRiders with 6-2 win

Springfield, MO - LHP Kyle Hald tossed a dominant seven scoreless innings to pace the Springfield Cardinals to the 6-2 win against the Frisco RoughRiders before 3,938 fans at Hammons Field on Thursday night. With the win, the Cards claim their third straight series victory, three-games-to-two.

After a quick 1-2-3 opening inning from LHP Kyle Hald (W, 9-4), the Cardinals (23-29, 57-65) jumped in front with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one away, 2B Breyvic Valera ripped a base hit to left field before motoring to third on a groundrule double by 1B Jonathan Rodriguez. DH Curt Smith the worked a walk to load the bases for 3B Patrick Wisdom. Wisdom tapped a grounder to the right side of the infield, not only bringing in Valera but also reaching base safely when the ball was misplayed by 2B Odubel Herrera. With the bases remaining full, CF Rafael Ortega forced in Rodriguez with an RBI walk. SS Alex Mejia capped the rally with an RBI sacrifice fly, bringing in Smith for the 3-0 lead.

Hald dealt another perfect frame in the top of the second, before the Cards tacked on a fourth run against LHP Andrew Faulkner (L, 1-2) in the bottom of the inning. With one down, C Travis Tartamella crushed a solo home run over the left field wall, increasing the lead to 4-0.

Hald continued to dominate the RoughRiders (30-23, 70-52) bats, blanking them through the next three innings before the Cardinals added a fifth run in the bottom of the fifth. With one down, RF Matt Williams and Valera worked consecutive walks, chasing Faulkner from the mound. RHP Ryan Rodebaugh took over for Frisco and struck out the first batter that he faced, but Smith ripped an RBI single up the middle to bring in Williams for the 5-0 advantage.

Hald finished his fantastic outing with two more scoreless innings, scattering only two hits while striking out eight through seven innings. He retired 12 of his final 13 batters in order.

After a scoreless eighth inning from RHP Mitch Harris, Springfield added a sixth run in the bottom of the eighth. With two away, Wisdom and Ortega both reached on back-to-back Frisco errors. Mejia then drove in his second run of the game, slicing an RBI single to center field to plate Wisdom and make it 6-0.

RHP Jeremy Berg took over for the top of the ninth inning and retired the first two outs in order before the RoughRiders had one last comeback try. C J.T. Wise initially kept the game going with a double, quickly racing home on an RBI double from Herrera. CF Teodoro Martinez then placed an RBI base hit through the right side, bringing in Herrera to decrease the deficit to four runs. Berg, though, got the very next batter to fly out for the final out, closing the 6-2 win for the Cardinals.

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

Guarantee Individual Promo Items with the brand-new Promo Seats

The brand-new Promo Seats Package includes one Diamond Box Ticket for a game featuring a Promotional Item and guarantees that you receive one of that night's Promotional Items, plus a portion of the ticket sales will benefit the Hamels Foundation Cardinals Youth Initiative to provide tickets for area youth and non-profit organizations.

By purchasing the Promo Seats, fans will have an item reserved for them regardless of where they are in line or what time they arrive at the game. And, for the first time, out-of-town fans that order a Promo Seat Package can choose to have their Promotional Item mailed to them for an additional shipping and handling charge of $10 per item. Both out of town fans and those unable to make the game may donate their game ticket to the Hamels Foundation Cardinals Youth Initiative.

Promo Seat Packages are just $28 each and there are only 61 available for each game. Call the Ticket Office at (417) 863-2143 right now to order yours!

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Girl Power Fireworks, 10 Years of Cardinals History Canvases and more coming up this weekend

The Cardinals kick off the series against the Midland RockHounds on Friday with AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks featuring Girl Power Music. First Pitch is 7:10pm, gates open at 6:10pm.

The homestand also includes:

-Mercy 10 Years of Cardinals History Canvas Giveaway (2,500) on Saturday, August 16. First Pitch is 6:10pm, gates open at 5:10pm.

-Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and The Track Family Fun Parks Kids Race the Bases on Sunday, August 17. First Pitch is 2:10pm, gates open at 1:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a The Cup 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 complete 2014 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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