Cardinals sweep the RockHounds with 7-1 win in finale

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals completed the series sweep of the Midland RockHounds with a 7-1 win before 6,009 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals went 5-1 on the homestand and have taken three straight series wins, closing the week with their third consecutive crowd of more than 6,000 fans.

After Springfield RHP Thomas Lee (W, 5-3) wrapped up his fourth straight scoreless inning to start the game, the Cardinals (22-34) cracked the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth against RHP Chris Jensen (L, 4-4). In his first game back with Springfield from Triple-A Memphis, LF Mike O'Neill worked a walk to start the inning. DH Jeremy Hazelbaker followed with a bunt single, putting two runners on with no outs. Jensen battled back with consecutive pop outs, but the Cardinals struck with two away. SS Aledmys Diaz ripped a two-run triple to right-center field, plating both O'Neill and Hazelbaker to swing the Cardinals ahead, 2-0.

The RockHounds (29-27) got on the board with a solo shot from 3B Renato Nunez in the top of the fifth, but Springfield stretched the lead right back out in the bottom of the fifth. After C Alberto Rosario pulled a leadoff double to left field, CF Charlie Tilson bunted his way on with a single, extending his season-long hitting streak to 12 games. Tilson promptly stole his way to second base, his team-best 19th swipe of the year, before O'Neill knocked an RBI single up the middle, scoring Rosario and moving Tilson to third. After a pair of pop outs, RF Nick Martini worked a walk to extend the inning and load the bases with two away. Diaz followed suit with an RBI walk of his own, forcing in Tilson from third and making it 4-1. With the bases still loaded, 3B Patrick Wisdom ripped a two-run single through the right side, scoring O'Neill and Martini and moving Diaz to third. With RHP Seth Frankoff taking over on the mound, 2B Bruce Caldwell capped the rally with an RBI base hit to left field, bringing in Diaz for the fifth run of the frame and the 7-1 lead.

Lee continued to deal, logging back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to close his outing. Through seven innings, he finished with just the one run allowed on four hits while striking out five.

LHP Lee Stoppelman picked up right where Lee left off with a three-up-three-down eighth inning, before RHP Chris Thomas closed it with a 1-2-3 ninth. Lee, Stoppelman and Thomas combined to toss the last four innings in perfect fashion, retiring the final 12 outs in order to slam the door in the 7-1 win for Springfield.

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

Cardinals kick off the road trip on Tuesday in Arkansas

The Cardinals begin an eight-game road trip on Tuesday with a 7:10pm First Pitch in Arkansas. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

Springfield returns home for an eight-game homestand from Wednesday, June 17 - Wednesday, June 24. For information on all of the upcoming fun and to order your tickets right now, click the link below and visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a The 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 2015 Schedule.

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