RoughRiders battle Cardinals for 6-5 win

Frisco, TX - A back-and-forth battle to start the series, the Frisco RoughRiders edged the Springfield Cardinals, 6-5, before 7,442 fans at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Friday night.

With 16 games remaining in the 1st Half, the Cardinals are tied with the Tulsa Drillers for 1st place.

Springfield (29-25) swung in front right out of the gates against RHP Sam Wolff. Celebrating his 22nd birthday, CF Harrison Bader smoked a leadoff solo home run, his team-leading 12th blast of the year, to open the 1-0 lead right away in the top of the first.

However, Frisco (31-21) had an immediate response with an unearned run against RHP Andrew Morales in the bottom of the first. With one away, CF Lewis Brinson reached on a fielding miscue by 3B Paul DeJong. After a strikeout from Morales for the second out in the frame, LF Ryan Cordell pulled an RBI single to left field to plate Brinson and even the score, 1-1.

Frisco then seized the lead in the bottom of the third. With one away, 1B Ronald Guzman slugged a solo home run to right field, swinging the RoughRiders into the 2-1 lead.

Springfield dealt the next blow, pulling back even on the board in the top of the sixth inning. Facing RHP Reed Garrett, 1B Luke Voit opened the sixth with a single. RF Anthony Garcia followed with a ground ball that snuck past SS Luis Mendez, with the fielding error enabling Voit to race to third and Garcia to reach safely. With runners at the corners, 3B Paul DeJong yanked a game-tying RBI single to left field, bringing in Voit with his team-leading 33rd RBI to square the score at 2-2.

Frisco, though, reclaimed the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Guzman and Cordell opened the inning with consecutive singles, before both raced home on a two-run triple by RF Preston Beck. Following a walk, Mendez skied an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Beck to make it a 5-2 Frisco advantage.

The Cardinals refused to go away, rallying back even once again in the top of the seventh. In his first game back from AAA-Memphis, DH Michael Ohlman sparked the rally with a leadoff single, before motoring to third on a 2B Breyvic Valera double. One out later with RHP Jose Valdespina (W, 2-1) taking over on the mound, SS Bruce Caldwell brought in both Ohlman and Valera with a two-run single up the middle. LF Jonathan Rodriguez followed suit with a single of his own, putting runners at first and second. 1B Luke Voit then bounced into a fielder's choice that retired Caldwell at third, but also led to a missed catch error on 1B Ronald Guzman as Frisco tried to retire Voit on the play. As the ball bounced away from Guzman, Voit not only reached safely, but Rodriguez was able to take third. With two on and two down, Garcia ripped a game-tying RBI single through the left side, scoring Rodriguez for the 5-5 tie.

The RoughRiders responded right away with the decisive run in the bottom of the seventh. Facing RHP Heath Wyatt (L, 0-1), Brinson reached base on a one-out single. After Brinson swiped second base, Guzman brought him in with an RBI double to propel the RoughRiders back in front, 6-5.

Valdespina kept the narrow Frisco lead intact with a scoreless eighth, before RHP Adam Parks (S, 4) followed with a 1-2-3 ninth to close the hard-fought 6-5 win for the RoughRiders.

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

Yadi Garden Gnomes, Carlos Martinez Bobbleheads, Two Fireworks Shows and more during homestand from June 7 - June 14

Springfield continues a six-game road trip in Frisco on Saturday at 7:05pm. Catch all of the action live on Jock 98.7 and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

The Cardinals then return home for a fun-filled eight-game homestand from Tuesday, June 7 - Tuesday, June 14. Don't miss any of the upcoming fun, including:

-Tuesday, June 7, 6:30pm - Six Flags St. Louis Free Kids Ticket (2,000 kids, 48 inches and under) and Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Wednesday, June 8, 6:30pm - Wednesday Night Baseball vs. the Arkansas Travelers. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Thursday, June 9, 7:10pm - Yadier Molina Garden Gnome Giveaway (2,000) and Klement's "Buck a Brat" Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, June 10, 7:10pm - AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks featuring Kids' Choice Music and Missouri Lottery Baseball Bingo. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, June 11, 6:10pm - Vision Clinic Carlos Martinez Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and Loren Cook Company 75th Anniversary Fireworks Celebration. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, June 12, 2:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 1:10pm.

-Monday, June 13, 11:10am - Summer School Program and Pasta Express $1 Kids Orders of Toasted Ravioli. Gates open at 10:10am.

-Tuesday, June 14, 6:30pm - Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking an Urban 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 2016 Promotional Schedule.

Escape to Cardinals Baseball!