Cardinals outlast Naturals, 4-3, in 13 innings

Springdale, AR - A bases-loaded RBI walk by SS Jake Lemmerman in the top of the 13th inning lifted the Springfield Cardinals to the 4-3 win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in 13 frames before 3,852 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday night.

The Naturals (11-9, 36-54) cracked the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning against RHP Corey Baker. With one on and two down, 1B Matt Fields knocked a two-run home run over the left field wall for the early 2-0 lead.

Springfield (9-11, 42-46) chipped the deficit in half right away in the top of the fifth. A base hit by 2B Luis Mateo started the frame, followed by a walk from SS Jake Lemmerman to put two on. RHP Jason Adam then hit 3B Vance Albitz with a pitch, loading the bases with no outs. LF Mike O'Neill chopped a grounder up the middle that Northwest Arkansas turned a double play on, but it also enabled Mateo to dart home from third and get the Cards on the board, 2-1.

The Cardinals completed the comeback in the very next inning. With one away in the top of the sixth, 1B Xavier Scruggs worked a walk to get a man on. After a line out by RF Stephen Piscotty, C Cody Stanley launched a go-ahead, two-run home run over the right field wall, swinging the Cardinals in front, 3-2.

The lead held up until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Naturals squared the score. Facing RHP Kevin Thomas, LF Brian Fletcher led off with a triple to right-center field. He then raced home on a wild pitch that bounced away from Stanley, evening the score at 3-3.

Both bullpens then alternated the next five innings in scoreless fashion, before the Cardinals retook the lead in the top of the 13th inning against LHP Jon Keck (L, 0-3). Scruggs again sparked the offense with a walk to start the inning. He took second on a bunt single by Piscotty that was placed perfectly inside the first base line, putting two runners on. A sacrifice bunt by Stanley advanced both runners, and then the Naturals intentionally walked Mateo to load the bases and deal instead to Lemmerman. Lemmerman, though, won the battle, working an RBI walk to force in Scruggs from third base and lift the Cardinals back into the lead, 4-3.

RHP Heath Wyatt (W, 1-1) slammed the door with his second scoreless relief inning, dealing a 1-2-3 bottom of the 13th to close the Cardinals 4-3 win in extra frames.

Click here for the complete box score from Thursday's game.

Don't miss St. Louis RHP Chris Carpenter make a rehab start in Springfield this Monday!

The former Cy Young Award Winner, two-time World Champion and three-time All-Star, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, will make a rehab start for the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field this Monday! First Pitch is 7:09pm, gates open at 6:09pm.

In nine years and 198 career starts as a Cardinal, Carpenter has gone 95-44, winning 15 or more games for the Cards in five of the six seasons in which he's made at least 20 starts. He ranks 3rd in Cardinals history with 1,085 strikeouts, only 10 behind Dizzy Dean. His .683 winning percentage as a Cardinal not only ranks 2nd all-time for St. Louis pitchers with at least 100 starts, but it is also the best in all of Major League Baseball over the past nine seasons.

He has been an All-Star three times throughout his career (2005, 2006 and 2010), and in 2005 became the first Cardinal since Rick Wise in 1973 to be named the starting pitcher for an All-Star Game.

Click here to get your tickets to see Chris Carpenter at Hammons Field this Monday!

The Cardinals kick off a four-game road series against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Wednesday at 7pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

Springfield then returns home for a four-game home series against the Arkansas Travelers, starting this Sunday at 6:09pm. This Sunday is the Rick's Automotive Pink Tote Bag Giveaway (2,500) and the Pink in the Park Specialty Jersey Auction, benefiting the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.  

Sunday is also a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with a free ice cream party for kids before the game, courtesy of Hiland Dairy. All kids can then run the bases just like the Cardinals after the game. Gates open at 5:09pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Cake Pop Company Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here for the Cardinals full 2013 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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