Cardinals streak hits 4 in 7-4 win over Naturals

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals (13-20) pushed their season-best win streak to four games with a 7-4 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (12-20) on Thursday at Hammons Field.

DECISIONS:
W: LHP Austin Warner (1-2)
L: RHP Jace Vines (1-4)
S: RHP Seth Elledge (2)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- The Cardinals took the lead for good during a three-run third inning capped by a two-run single by RF Johan Mieses after DH Justin Williams tied the game 1-1 with his first Hammons Field RBI.

- With Warner cruising, the Cardinals pushed their lead to 7-2 in the sixth thanks to 1B Chris Chinea's fifth homer of the year, an RBI triple by CF Dylan Carlson and a pair of Naturals errors that accounted for two more Cardinals runs.

- RHP Seth Elledge crushed a late Naturals rally, entering the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning and forcing a Travis Jones groundout to third to escape the jam and preserve the 7-4 score.

NOTABLES:
- Warner tossed his best game of 2019, pitching 7.0+ innings with five strikeouts, six hits, three earned runs and zero walks.

- SS Jose Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double in his first game with Springfield in 2019.

- Williams finished 2-for-4 with a double in his Hammons Field debut, driving home a run and scoring.

- The Naturals finished the game with five errors, but only one of Springfield's seven runs was unearned.

WHAT'S ON DECK:
Game 2 of this four-game series is Friday at 7:10 p.m. Friday's game is our Expedia Fleece Blanket Giveaway for 2,000 fans.

Check out all the upcoming fun and get your tickets today at www.SpringfieldCardinals.com.