Lopez, Cardinals lash Yankees in opener, 9-3

PULASKI, Va. - 2B Irving Lopez reached base four times, clocked two home runs and drove in five, as the Johnson City Cardinals won their third straight by defeating the Pulaski Yankees, 9-3, at Calfee Park on Sunday night.
With the win, the Redbirds have reached the .500 mark for the first time since July 5 at 19-19 on the season. Pulaski's loss drops them back to second place in the Eastern Division at 24-12.
Tied at one in the fifth inning, Johnson City began using the long ball to their advantage. Lopez (3-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB) started the rally with a single and LF Walker Robbins (1-2, R, 2B, BB, SO) followed with a walk. On an 0-1 pitch and two outs, C Julio Rodriguez (3-5, R, HR, 3 RBI) deposited a ball well over the left-center field fence. The three-run blast - his second of the year - put the Cardinals in the front, 4-1.
In the sixth, it was the gopher ball that did the trick again. SS Delvin Perez (1-4, R) reached on an error and RF Carlos Talavera (1-4, 2 R, SO) collected a single. With two on and two away, Lopez made his mark. The left-handed swinger smashed a 2-1 pitch deep over the right-field wall for a three-run homer. The shot - his second of the year - extended the Redbirds lead to 7-1.
Pulaski would rally for a pair in the sixth, but that was close as they would get. The Yankees scratched across two tallies on a bases-loaded walk to 1B Eric Wagaman (0-3, RBI, BB, SO) and a single by 3B Andres Chaparro (1-4, RBI), trimming the Johnson City advantage to 7-3. However, RHP Jake Walsh (2.1 IP, H, 3 SO) entered with the bases loaded and struck out CF Leobaldo Cabrera (1-4, SO) to end the threat.
Lopez put the game on ice with another dinger in the eighth. After Talavera reached on an error, the Yuma, Ariz. resident whipped a 3-1 offering to deep right-center. The rocket carried over the fence for a two-run shot - his second of the night and third of the campaign - putting the Cardinals back in front by six, 9-3.
Walsh would hand the ball to LHP Jacob Patterson (1.0 IP, H, SO) in the ninth. The left-hander retired the side to close out the victory for Johnson City.
The Yankees got on the board first with a solo home run to left by DH Dermis Garcia (2-3, R, HR, RBI, BB, SO), his eighth of the year. 3B Brady Whalen (1-4, RBI, SO) tied it up for the Cardinals in the second on a run-scoring single to center.
RHP Franyel Casadilla (5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 4 SO) earned his first victory of the year, allowing just three runs on three hits in 5.1 innings.
His counterpart - Pulaski's RHP Daniel Ramos (5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) - was taxed for four runs in five innings and was saddled with his third defeat.
Lopez (3-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB) and Rodriguez (3-5, R, HR, 3 RBI) led the charge for the Cardinals' offense on Sunday. The duo combined for six of the team's 11 hits and drove in eight of their nine runs in the victory.
The Cardinals will go for their fifth-straight series win on Monday, as they are expected to send RHP Evan Guillory (1-0, 4.66 ERA) to the hill. The Yanks are projected to counter with RHP Alexander Vizcaino (2-2, 6.49 ERA).
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET start at Calfee Park. Monday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
Johnson City will return home on Thursday, August 3, as they kick off a six-game homestand with three contests against the Princeton Rays, the rookie affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. It will be a Coors Light Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark with special one, two and three dollar specials on all draft beer. That evening's affair will also be Fanatics 101 Night at the stadium.
Single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at JCCardinals.com or by calling the Cardinals' Ticket Office at (423) 461-4866.
ABOUT THE JOHNSON CITY CARDINALS
The Johnson City Cardinals are the Rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Members of the ten-team Appalachian League, Cardinals baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for 80 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com