Cardinals quiet Hounds with 6-3 win

Springfield, MO - Before a sellout crowd of 7,392 fans at Hammons Field, the Springfield Cardinals cruised past the Midland RockHounds, 6-3, on Saturday evening.

After RHP Mike Mayers (W, 4-5) struck out four batters through his first two scoreless innings, the Cardinals (24-30, 58-66) swung in front in the bottom of the second against RHP Murphy Smith (L, 1-4). With one down, RF Rafael Ortega crushed a solo home run on top of the Indoor Training Facility beyond the right field wall, lifting the Cards in front, 1-0.

Mayers kept the Midland (31-24, 69-56) bats at bay through the next two innings as well, striking out six batters through his first four frames in total. However, the RockHounds rallied in the top of the fifth with two away. DH Conner Crumbliss initially extended the inning with a bunt single, followed by a base hit from CF Kenny Wilson. An RBI single from 1B Max Muncy brought in Crumbliss to get the Hounds on the board and even the score. 3B Jefry Marte then ripped an RBI double to right-center that brought in one run and led to an error on the throw back into the infield, enabling a second run to score on the play for the 3-1 lead.

The Cardinals wasted no time in responding, coming right back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. 3B Matt Williams and SS Alex Mejia started the stanza with consecutive singles, putting runners at first and third base. LF David Popkins promptly plated Williams with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field that also moved Mejia to second. After a foul out, CF Charlie Tilson tied it with a two-out, RBI double to right-center, bringing in Mejia to square the score, 3-3.

Springfield didn't let it stay tied for long. Mayers dealt a scoreless inning in the top of the sixth, his final frame, before DH Cody Stanley belted a go-ahead solo home run that also carried on top of the Indoor Training Facility in the bottom of the sixth, swinging Springfield back in front, 4-3.

RHP Sam Tuivailala followed Mayers on the mound with a scoreless seventh inning, before LHP Lee Stoppelman blanked the Hounds in the top of the eighth, keeping Springfield ahead by one run.

The Cardinals bats then struck for two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning against RHP Tim Sexton. With two down, 1B Jonathan Rodriguez ripped a double to right field to keep the inning alive. After the RockHounds intentionally walked Ortega, Williams lined an RBI single, his third hit of the day, to left field, plating Rodriguez and moving Ortega to second. Mejia followed with a booming RBI groundrule double to center field, scoring Ortega for the 6-3 lead.

After Stoppelman started the top of the ninth, RHP Joey Donofrio (S, 10) took over with one on and no outs. CF Kenny Wilson reached on an infield single to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Donofrio dug in. The right-hander retired the next three batters in order on a strikeout, a foul out and a fly out to right, closing the 6-3 win for the Cardinals.

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

Guarantee Individual Promo Items with the brand-new Promo Seats

The brand-new Promo Seats Package includes one Diamond Box Ticket for a game featuring a Promotional Item and guarantees that you receive one of that night's Promotional Items, plus a portion of the ticket sales will benefit the Hamels Foundation Cardinals Youth Initiative to provide tickets for area youth and non-profit organizations.

By purchasing the Promo Seats, fans will have an item reserved for them regardless of where they are in line or what time they arrive at the game. And, for the first time, out-of-town fans that order a Promo Seat Package can choose to have their Promotional Item mailed to them for an additional shipping and handling charge of $10 per item. Both out of town fans and those unable to make the game may donate their game ticket to the Hamels Foundation Cardinals Youth Initiative.

Promo Seat Packages are just $28 each and there are only 61 available for each game. Call the Ticket Office at (417) 863-2143 right now to order yours!

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Free Ice Cream for Kids and Kids Run the Bases on Sunday wrap up the homestand

The homestand wraps up with a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday, featuring free ice cream for kids before the game, and The Track Family Fun Parks Kids Race the Bases on Sunday, August 17. First Pitch is 2:10pm, gates open at 1:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a The Cup 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 complete 2014 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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