Offense, Bullpen Shine as Sod Poodles Even Series

Springfield, Missouri - The Sod Poodles won a back-and-forth affair on Tuesday night at Hammons Field, beating the Springfield Cardinals 9-6 in the second game of their four-game set.

After taking a lead in the fifth inning, Amarillo's bullpen was terrific. Kyle McGrath, who made his Sod Poodles debut, tossed a total of five scoreless frames in relief along with Andres Muñoz and David Bednar. 
The Sod Poodles plated a run just three batters into the ballgame against Springfield starter Casey Meisner. After a leadoff walk, Owen Miller lined a base hit to score Rodrigo Orozco with the game's first run. 
After the Cardinals tied things at 1-1 in the second against righty Jesse Scholtens, the Sod Poodles responded with a hard hit two-run homer off the bat of Hudson Potts. Potts' second blast of the season gave Amarillo a 3-1 lead.
The Sod Poodles tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, capped by Edward Olivares' RBI single to extend Amarillo's lead to 5-1.
Springfield put together a big rally in the fourth against Scholtens. Evan Mendoza lofted a solo shot to left field to cut the Cardinals' deficit to 5-2.
With two outs, the Cardinals strung together four consecutive hits. This an RBI single from Kramer Robertson, an RBI double from Scott Hurst, and was completed with Shane Billings' pinch-hit two-run homer beyond the left field fence. The Cardinals took a 6-5 lead with the five-run frame.
The Sod Poodles responded immediately in the fifth against Springfield reliever Mike O'Reilly, who walked Jorge Oña with one out. After Webster Rivas singled and an error by left fielder Scott Hurst, Amarillo second baseman Chris Baker hit a ball back to O'Reilly that the pitcher could not handle. The error allowed Oña to score and even the game at 6-6.
Later in the inning, Olivares dug in with the bases loaded and ripped a two-run double down the left field line. Olivares' second hit of the evening gave the Soddies an 8-6 advantage.
After the rally, Amarillo's bullpen went to work. McGrath fired a scoreless fifth and wiggled out of trouble in the sixth without allowing a run. Muñoz came on for the seventh and retired the side in order.
In the eighth, Bednar tossed another scoreless inning. After the Sod Poodles tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth to make it a 9-6 game, Bednar allowed the first two batters to reach base in the bottom half of the ninth. Bednar bounced back to retire the next three in a row and secure his first save of the season.
Tuesday night's win was Amarillo's second road win of the season and their first since April 5.
The Sod Poodles and Cardinals continue their series on Wednesday morning with first pitch at 11:10 a.m. Right-hander Lake Bachar takes the mound for Amarillo while Springfield lefty Austin Warner starts at home.
The game is aired on 940 AM KIXZ and via streaming platforms with Sam Levitt beginning at 10:50 a.m.