Cardinals sweep RoughRiders with 4-1 win in Sunday finale

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals completed the sweep of the Frisco RoughRiders with a 4-1 win before 4,662 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals wrap up the homestand going 4-2, maintaining at least a 2.5-game lead over the Tulsa Drillers for 1st place in the North Division First Half Standings.

The Cardinals (28-22) swung in front right out of the gates, seizing a two-run lead in the bottom of the first against RHP Luis Ortiz (L, 1-1). With two down, CF Harrison Bader extended the inning with an infield single. On the very next pitch, 1B Luke Voit clobbered a two-run home run to left field, his ninth shot of the season, opening an early 2-0 lead for the Cardinals.

After RHP Andrew Morales (W, 4-4) retired the first 10 RoughRiders that he faced, Frisco (30-19) got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. With one away, RF Preston Beck slugged a solo home run to right field, slicing the deficit to 2-1.

The Cardinals got the run right back in the bottom of the fourth. Voit opened the inning with a free pass, before taking second on a single from RF Anthony Garcia. With two on and no outs, 3B Paul DeJong laced an RBI single to left field for his team-leading 30th RBI on the season and the 3-1 Cardinals lead.

Morales kept the two-run lead intact through the remainder of his start, blanking the RoughRiders in his final three frames. Morales wrapped up with seven one-run innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five.

After Morales struck out the final batter of the 1-2-3 top of the seventh, the Cardinals padded the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Facing RHP Cody Palmquist, C Carson Kelly started the stanza with a single to center field. After moving to second on a groundout, Kelly took third on a base knock from LF C.J. McElroy, Jr. Valera then skied an RBI sacrifice fly back to the wall in right field, bringing in Kelly for the 4-1 lead.

RHP John Brebbia took over for the top of the eighth and picked up right where Morales had left off, tossing a scoreless inning. RHP Josh Lucas then took care of the top of the ninth, helped by a leaping grab by McElroy at the left field fence to start the inning. Lucas struck out the next batter, before inducing a fly out to left field, closing the 4-1 win for Springfield.

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

Cardinals kick off six-game trip to Texas on Tuesday

The Cardinals kick off the road trip in Midland on Tuesday with a 6:30pm First Pitch. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7 and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

The Cardinals then return for an eight-game homestand from Tuesday, June 7 - Tuesday, June 14. Click the link below for all of the upcoming fun and to get your tickets right now.

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

Click here to view the full 2016 Promotional Schedule.

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