Ynfante, Guillory spark Cardinals to 5-2 win

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - CF Wadye Ynfante smashed a pair of home runs, while RHP Evan Guillory hurled five innings of shutout ball, as the Johnson City Cardinals won their fourth-straight game with a 5-2 win over the Burlington Royals in front of 1,217 fans at TVA Credit Union Ballpark on Tuesday evening.
With the win, the Redbirds have now captured three straight series and improved their overall record to 16-17. Burlington's loss dropped the team to 13-19 on the campaign.
A scoreless game going into the third, SS Imeldo Diaz (2-4, R, 2B, SO) ripped a one-out single to start the rally. With two away, Ynfante (2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI) smashed a 2-2 pitch to deep left field. The shot sailed over the wall for a two-run homer - his fifth of the year - to put the Cardinals ahead, 2-0.
It was the 19-year-old who delivered again in the sixth. With nobody on and one out, Ynfante uncorked a mammoth blast to left field. The solo homer - his second of the night and sixth of the season - extended the Johnson City advantage to 3-0.
3B Stanley Espinal (1-3, R, HR, RBI) made his Redbird debut a memorable one in the seventh. With one away, the right-handed swinger hit a hard liner over the left-field fence for another round-tripper. The solo home run was his first of the year and the first as a member of the St. Louis' organization, putting Johnson City up, 4-0.
Burlington pulled to within a pair in the eighth, but that was as close as they would get. SS Oliver Nunez (3-3, R, 2B) singled to start the inning and then LF Cal Jones (1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SO) clocked a two-run home run to left. The blast - his second of the year - pulled the Royals within 4-2.
Johnson City managed to score an insurance run in the eighth. 2B Irving Lopez (0-3, R) was hit by a pitch, moved to second a wild pitch and then third on a fly out to right. On a second wild toss, the 22-year-old raced home to score, stretching the advantage to 5-2.
Guillory (5.0 IP, 2 H, 6 SO) was magnificent for the Cardinals in his first professional start. The 21-year-old compiled five spotless innings and struck out a career-high six to earn the first victory of his career.
LHP Fabian Blanco (1.2 IP, H, 3 SO) entered with nobody on and one out in the eighth and retired the game's final five outs to collect his third save of the year.
Royals LHP J.C. Cloney (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 SO) threw 50 of his 59 pitches for strikes but surrendered a two-run homer in his first loss of the season.
Ynfante (2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI) continued his torrid end to July by blasting a pair of home runs for his second career multi-homer game. It was also his second multi-long ball contest in the last 12 days. Diaz (2-4, R, SO) also added his first multi-hit contest as a member of Johnson City in the win.
The Cardinals will look to sweep their first series of the year on Wednesday night, as LHP  Jacob Schlesener  (1-1, 2.78 ERA) is expected to take the ball. Burlington is projected to counter with RHP Sal Biasi  (1-0, 1.80 ERA) in the series finale.
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. Wednesday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
That night's contest will be an All-You-Can-Eat Night at the ballpark, as $15 gets fans a general admission tickets, as well as all-you-can-eat on select food items in the ballpark. It will also be Challenger League Runs The Ballpark Night presented by Southern Sports Cards.
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.