RockHounds edged by Cards on walk-off homer

Andrew Knizner's last name is pronounced "Kizz-ner." Thursday night in Springfield, however, it was pronounced "walk-off." 
The Cardinals catcher sent a game-winning home run over the right field fence at Hammons Field, completing a comeback that began with a three-base error on a pop-up that landed about 60 feet from home plate. 

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With the RockHounds leading 1-0, Randy Arozarena led off the seventh with a high pop-up between the pitcher's mound and first base. All four infielders tracked the pop fly, which then glanced off the glove of first baseman Viosergy Rosa. Arozarena, who has outstanding speed, was halfway to second base before the ball was retrieved. The 'Hounds also left third base unattended, so Arozarena not only advanced to second, he then easily won the foot race to third base, going 270 feet on the base paths on a 60-foot pop up.
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Brandon Mann got the next two batters (ironically, including Knizner) but Magneuris Sierra lifted a soft liner just over the glove of third baseman Branden Cogswell. The "duck snort" single tied the game and set the stage for Knizner's walk-off two innings later.  
The RockHounds took a 1-0 lead in the third on a B.J. Boyd single and Max Schrock's RBI double into the right field corner, which scored Jordan Tarsovich, who had reached on an unusual fielder's choice. Tarsovich hit a pop up into shallow right field, which Kolten Wong - with Springfield on a Major League rehab assignment - bobbled and dropped. He recovered quickly enough to throw to second, getting the force out on Boyd on a close play at second.
Sierra not only drove in the tying run, but he also denied the RockHounds an early score. With Tarsovich on at second base and two out in the first inning - on the first of his two doubles - Rosa sent a line drive into the power alley in right-center. Sierra made an absolute web gem of a play, getting to the ball in perfect stride and making an airborne, diving catch.

Lost in the Springfield comeback was a tremendous start from the RockHounds' Dustin Hurlbutt. The right-hander went six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, three walks and one hit batsman, while striking out three in just his second Double-A start.
Quick Notes:
The RockHounds dropped to 3-11 in the second half (38-46 overall), are 1-4 in their last five and 2-8 in their last 10 and are 3-8 in the season series with Springfield. The 'Hounds are at .500 (26-26) against the South, but have struggled against the North Division with a 12-20 mark.
B.J. Boyd (2-for-4, double, walk) has an eight-game hitting streak (12-for-34, .353) with five doubles, a solo home run, three RBI and a .588 slugging percentage.
Jordan Tarsovich has hit in three straight games (5-for-14, .357, two doubles, solo home run) and in six of his last seven games (10-for-31, .323).
Tyler Ramirez has hit in three straight games (4-for-11, double, home run, two RBI) and has hit in four of his five games since being promoted to the RockHounds from Class-A Advanced Stockton (5-for-16, .313). Ramirez was selected by Oakland in the seventh round of the 2016 draft out of the University of North Carolina. He hit .301 in 76 games with the California League Ports before being promoted to the RockHounds.
On Deck:
The RockHounds and Cardinals conclude their three-game series at Hammons Field in Springfield on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. The 'Hounds then travel to Tulsa for a three-game series with the Drillers at ONEOK Field. First pitch is 7:05 each evening.
Springfield's Friday night starter is right-hander Sandy Alcantara (3-5, 5.57 ERA), with Joel Seddon taking A.J. Puk's spot in the rotation. Puk's next appearance will be this Sunday in the All-Star Futures Game, held in conjunction with the Major League All-Star Game, at Marlins Park in Miami.
Alcantara makes his 15th start for the Cardinals and his second against the RockHounds. His previous outing versus the 'Hounds was April 18, a 7-5 win at Springfield (5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R/3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). The 21-year-old native of Azua, Dominican Republic, is rated the Cardinals' #6 prospect by Baseball America and #7 by MLB.com. His season line: 76 IP, 85 H, 29 BB, 64 K, a 1.50 WHIP and .286 opponent average.
Seddon makes his 18th appearance and his first start for the 'Hounds (he also made one spot start for the Nashville Sounds). Overall, the right-hander is 3-2 with two saves, a 4.75 ERA, a 1.52 WHIP and .293 opponent average. His numbers were greatly affected by one start on June 21 at Frisco in which the RoughRiders scored nine runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings. Excluding the Frisco speed bump, Seddon's numbers drop to a 3.61 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and .277 opponent average. One key number to watch in Friday's start: Seddon's ERA in nine games at Security Bank Ballpark is 1.78. In eight games on the road, that number balloons to 7.71.