Four Springfield pitchers, including one St. Louis Cardinal, combined on a five-hitter as the Cardinals (Springfield, that is) shut out the RockHounds, 4-0, Sunday evening at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri. Connor Jones, a top 20 prospect for St. Louis, went the first six innings, escaping jams in the fourth
Four Springfield pitchers, including one St. Louis Cardinal, combined on a five-hitter as the Cardinals (Springfield, that is) shut out the RockHounds, 4-0, Sunday evening at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri.
Connor Jones, a top 20 prospect for St. Louis, went the first six innings, escaping jams in the fourth and sixth. He allowed just three hits while walking three and striking out four. A trio of relievers, including Luke Gregerson (on re-hab assignment for St. Louis) each went one scoreless inning to seal the win.
Brian Howard allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings and took the loss. The St. Louis native (who went to college at TCU) had a sizeable "fan club" on hand and was solid, stirking out eight batters and walking none.
Three consecutive singles, including Ramón Urías' perfect hit-and-run knock to right-center, helped the Cardinals take a 2-0 lead in the third and Urias' second home run in as many days, a solo high drive to right, just over the wall (and despite Skye Bolt's great effort, climbing the right field wall) pushed the lead to 3-0.
Notables
Since winning the opener of the current road trip, the RockHounds have dropped five straight, including two shutouts and three extra-inning defeats.
Eli White went 2-for-4, pushing his terrific streak to seven straight games. In the seven-gamer, he is 15-for-25 (.600) with a double, triple, a home run and four RBI. Eli has also walked six times in the six games (with one sac fly), reaching base in 21-of-32 plate appearances (a .656 on-base percentage).
Tyler Ramirez lost a six-game hit streak but drew a walk and has now reached base in seven straight - - (10-28, .357) with three doubles, one home run and 10 RBI.
Skye Bolt was kept off base for just the third time in 18 games since his return from Stockton - - he's hitting .271 after posting a .133 average over 11 games in April.
Adding Injury to Insult
The 'Hounds have lost five straight and, for the near future, they've lost catcher Sean Murphy to a right hand injury. Baseball can be remarkable cruel. Sean felt something "wrong" on a line drive base hit Friday in Tulsa … a shot that snapped an 0-for-14 stretch. The injury also jeopardizes his appearance in next Sunday's All-Star Futures Game. Sean was examined by a doctor on Saturday and is scheduled to undergo another examination Monday to determine more specifics about the nature and severity of the injury.
I'm Not Tim Kurkjian Or Anything, Just Sayin' ...
Completely useless but kinda cool. The RockHounds had just four assists in the field Sunday - - none until the sixth inning and two of them on a 6-2-3 double-play in the eighth.
Next Game: Monday, July 9
6:30 p.m. vs. Springfield Cardinals
Hammons Field Springfield, Missouri
- Final of a three-game series and of a (six-day) seven-game road trip
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:15 p.m.
Probable Starters
SPR: Mike O'Reilly (RH, 2-3, 4.39)
RH: Jesus Luzardo (LH, 5-3, 2.81)
