Naturals Best Cards 5-2
The Cardinals would strike first on Tuesday night as Springfield got a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Xavier Scruggs started the frame with a single and moved to second on a one-out single by Chris Swauger. Jose Garcia then stroked a single to left to score Scruggs giving the Cardinals a 1-0 edge.
David Kopp, who leads the Cardinals with 11 wins, got the ball for Springfield and started out strong throwing two scoreless innings. He ran into some trouble in the 3rd as Johnny Giavotella and Eric Hosmer started the inning with singles. After a fly out moved Giavotella to third, the Naturals tried a double steal and the Cardinals recorded an out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Kopp would then strike out Nick Van Stratten to end the scoring threat.
The Naturals had the first two runners on again in the 4th before a Jamie Romak sacrificed the runners to second and third. David Kopp struck out Chris McConnell, but then allowed a two-out, two-strike double to Derrick Robinson to put NW Arkansas up 2-1. With two outs and Robinson at second, Johnny Giavotella singled to center, but Antone DeJesus threw out Robinson at the plate to end the inning and keep the Cardinals within a run.
In the 5th, Eric Hosmer led off with a double and after Clint Robinson walked, Nick Van Stratten laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third with only one out. Manny Pina then came to the plate and singled to left to score Hosmer to make it a 3-1 game. David Kopp would leave the game at that point after throwing 94 pitches. Tom Eager came in out of the bullpen and allowed a sacrifice fly to Tim Smith to put the Naturals up by three, 4-1.
The Cardinals would get a run back in the bottom of the 5th as the Redbirds rallied with two outs. Matt Carpenter singled through the right side then Xavier Scruggs and Aaron Luna drew walks to load the bases for Chris Swauger. With a 3-1 count, Swauger drew a bases loaded walk to force in another Springfield run making the score 4-2 and knocking starter Eduardo Paulino from the game. Henry Barrera came in out of the bullpen and struck out Jose Garcia stranding the bases loaded.
Tom Eager would pitch a scoreless 6th inning before allowing a solo home run to Clint Robinson to lead off the top of the 7th. Nick Van Stratten would then double before Jamie Romak and Chris McConnell drew two out walks to force Eager from the game. With the bases loaded, Ramon Delgado came in and got Derrick Robinson to ground out to end the inning keeping the game 5-2. Delgado would throw a scoreless 8th inning and Blake King threw a scoreless 9th to keep the Cardinals within three runs.
The Naturals bullpen was too much for the Cardinals however as Springfield had just two singles after the second inning of the game in the 5-2 loss to NW Arkansas.
The Cardinals lost a game on Tulsa with their loss as Tulsa won 8-1 over Arkansas, so both Springfield and Tulsa are three games back of the North Division lead. Should the Naturals win the second half, Springfield holds a 8.5 game lead over Tulsa for the next best record in the North Division playoff race.
The Cardinals will return home on tomorrow to conclude the regular season home schedule with a seven-game homestand against division rivals Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas. The Cardinals will send right hander Brian Broderick (8-2) to the mound against left hander Mike Montgomery (5-2) for the Naturals. Game time is at 7:10pm at Hammons Field. Wednesday is Drury University night at Hammons Field and the Cardinals will be giving away 2,000 Cardinals Caps in Drury's colors, black, red and gray. For ticket information please visit the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at www.springfieldcardinals.com or call (417) 863-2143.
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