Nogowski walks off Cardinals in 10th, secures 5-4 comeback

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Another series ends with another walk-off.

Three days after Randy Arozarena sent the Naturals packing with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth, John Nogowski delivered a game-winning single in the 10th that secured a 5-4 Cardinals victory and a key series win over the first-place Drillers.

The Cardinals looked potentially beaten after the Drillers put up a run in the top of the 10th and quickly placed Springfield in a tough situation in the bottom half with a runner on first and two outs.

But, with over 4,000 in attendance at Hammons Field, the Cardinals rallied.

Andy Young shot a liner into left that pushed Chris Chinea to second. Then, Evan Mendoza pushed a bloop single to shallow right, bringing Chinea in from second and tying the game 4-4. That set the table for Nogowski, who wasted no time in lining the winning single into center, scoring Young and cementing the 5-4 final.

The win pulls the Cardinals back within 5.5 games of the Drillers after sitting 11.5 games back just a couple weeks ago.

Derian Gonzalez (3-0) was credited with the win after allowing one run over the game's final two innings and striking out a pair.

Cardinals starter Anthony Shew finished with a season-high 10 strikeouts in another strong start. Shew tossed six shutout innings, allowing six hits and two walks.

BEFORE THE DRAMA

Young kicked off his campaign for a second consecutive Texas League Player of the Week by smacking the first pitch of his third-inning at-bat over the center field fence for a 3-0 Cardinals lead. Blake Drake and Tommy Edman singled earlier in the inning and scored on the homer, Young's sixth in 11 Double-A games.

The Drillers pulled within 3-2 in the seventh when two-out singles from Wes Darvill and Jacob Scavuzzo and a Cael Brockmeyer walk loaded the bases on Elniery García. Keibert Ruiz followed with a single to left that brought Darvill and Scavuzzo in, but the Cardinals escaped the inning when Brockmeyer was thrown out at third.

A ninth-inning leadoff walk by Tyler Goeddel eventually sent the game into extras when Jacob Scavuzzo drove him in with a deep sacrifice fly three batters later.

Logan Landon gave Tulsa its short-lived 4-3 lead with a single to right off Gonzalez, scoring Brockmeyer.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals hit the road for four games at Northwest Arkansas with the first set for a 7:05pm first pitch on Thursday. Springfield then travels to San Antonio and Corpus Christi for a pair of three-game series.

Springfield returns home Tuesday, August 14 for a six-game homestand that opens with the Missions.