Grand Slam Beats Cards
Deryk Hooker made his first start in Double-A since May 15th after missing 79 games with a right elbow strain. Against him was lefty Juan Oramas who was the San Antonio pitcher that the Cardinals defeated.
Springfield had a great chance to score the game's first run in the 3rd against Oramas as Jim Rapoport and Ryan Jackson singled to start the frame. However, Matt Adams struck out and Jermaine Curtis struck out into a double play as he was called for batter interference on a double steal ending the inning.
Locked up in a scoreless tie into the 5th, the Missions were the first to strike against Deryk Hooker who had allowed just one hit going into the inning. Jason Hagerty reached on a fielder's choice with one out and moved all the way to third on a two-out single by pitcher Juan Oramas. Blake Tekotte then singled to left center plating Hagerty giving the Missions a 1-0 lead. That hit ended the night for Deryk Hooker throwing 74 pitches. Scott Schneider would come in and throw one pitch to Dean Anna to retire the side.
The Cardinals answered in the top of the 6th as Matt Adams blasted a solo homer, his 29th of the season, to right center to tie the game 1-1. The long-fly tied the Springfield Cardinals franchise record for homeruns in a single season originally set by Colby Rasmus in 2007.
In the 7th, Springfield threatened to take the lead when Donovan Solano doubled into right center field to start the inning. Charlie Cutler then sacrificed him to third, but Daryl Jones and pinch hitter Jose Garcia both struck out to end the inning with the go-ahead run stranded at 3rd base.
San Antonio used that momentum to grab the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jorge Rondon started the inning and allowed an infield single before throwing a wild pitch and walking pinch hitter Dan Robertson. After a sacrifice bunt, Rondon walked Dean Anna and was taken out of the game with the bases loaded. Sam Freeman came in out of the bullpen having not allowed an earned run in August, but on the first pitch he threw, Jaff Decker blasted a grand slam to give the Missions a 5-1 lead.
Matt Adams did his best to keep the Cardinals close by blasting his second homer of the game, his 30th of the year, to bring the score to 5-2. With the dinger, Adams became the all-time Springfield leader for homers in a single season.
The Missions added an insurance run in the 9th as Carlos Sosa doubled to start the inning, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a dropped fly ball by Daryl Jones to make it the eventual final of 6-2 pushing the Cardinals losing streak to four games.
Springfield will conclude their three game series with the Missions at 7:05 from Wolff Stadium. The Cardinals will send left hander John Gast to the mound against righty Joe Wieland of San Antonio.
The Cardinals will return to Hammons Field for a crucial four-game series with the NW Arkansas Naturals Tuesday August 23rd at 7:07pm. Springfield will be giving away 4,000 sets of team baseball card sets to fans thanks to our friends at Sysco Foods. And, every Tuesday at Hammons Field, the Cardinals will have KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets where if you Buy 1 Ticket you Get 1 Free from KRAFT Singles with purchase. Bring your package wrapper to a Springfield Cardinals Game on Tuesdays for a steal of a deal! Visit kraftsingles.com for more info! Some exclusions apply. Great tickets are still available by visiting the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at springfieldcardinals.com or by calling (417) 863-2143.
Escape to Cardinals Baseball!