Homers, Pitching lead Cardinals to 4-1 win over Royals

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Cardinals received long solo home runs from C Julio Rodriguez and SS Irving Lopez, while the bullpen did not give up a base-hit over the game's final four innings, as Johnson City defeated the Burlington Royals, 4-1, in front of 3,129 fans at TVA Credit Union Ballpark on Monday night.
With the win, the Redbirds have tied a season-high with their third consecutive win and improved their overall record to 15-17. Burlington's loss snapped their four-game win streak and dropped them to 13-18 on the campaign.
Trailing 1-0, Rodriguez (2-3, R, HR, RBI, BB) demolished the first pitch he saw in the second out to deep left. The shot cleared the fence for a solo home run - his first of the year - and tied the game up for Johnson City at one apiece.
An inning later, Lopez (1-4, R, HR, RBI) put the Birds ahead for good. On a 1-0 offering, the lefty swinger laced a rocket into the right-centerfield gap. The liner carried over the wall for a solo jack - the first of his professional career - to put the Cardinals in front, 2-1.
The offense managed to add two more to their lead in the fourth. 1B Luis Bandes (1-4, R, 2B) and 3B Brady Whalen (1-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB) started the frame with back-to-back doubles to extend the advantage to 3-1. Following a one-out walk to Rodriguez, LF Walker Robbins (1-3, RBI, SO) slapped a single to left-center. Whalen scored to put the Cardinals up, 4-1.
That was all the run support the Johnson City pitching staff needed. RHP Johan Oviedo (5.0 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 5 SO) surrendered only one unearned run over five innings to earn his second victory of the season. The bullpen trio - RHP Paul Salazar III (1.0 IP, 2 BB), LHP Jake Dahlberg (2.0 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO) and RHP Thomas St. Clair (1.0 IP, SO) - did not allow a base-hit over the game's final four innings to seal the win. 
St. Clair worked a three-up, three-down ninth inning to finish off the contest and his third save of the season.
RHP Carlos Hernandez (6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 5 SO) issued four runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings for Burlington, taking his second defeat of the campaign.
Rodriguez (2-3, R, HR, RBI, BB) compiled a two-hit night for Johnson City, reaching base three times in the win. CF Chase Pinder (2-3, 2B) extended his hitting streak to nine games, ripping a double.
The Cardinals will look to win their fourth straight on Tuesday with RHP Franyel Casadilla (0-3, 8.71 ERA) is expected to take the ball. Burlington is projected to counter with LHP J.C. Cloney  (2-0, 3.91 ERA) in game two on Tuesday.
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET start at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Tuesday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
It will be the first Tennessee Pride Tuesday presented by Citi, as the Cardinals will wear special retro uniforms. There will also be barbecue sandwiches, Dr. Enuf and 16 oz. draft beers from Yee Haw, Fanatic, JRH, Johnson City Brewing and Saw Works on sale for only two dollars.
Single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at JCCardinals.com or by calling the Cardinals' Ticket Office at (423) 461-4866.
ABOUT THE JOHNSON CITY CARDINALS
The Johnson City Cardinals are the Rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Members of the ten-team Appalachian League, Cardinals baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for 80 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com.