Gotay and Cards crush Tulsa, 13-2

Springfield, MO - 3B Ruben Gotay drove in six RBIs to help lead the Springfield Cardinals to the 13-2 blowout win against the Tulsa Drillers, before 3,585 fans at Hammons Field on Tuesday night.

Gotay tied Chris Swauger (4/28 vs. ARK) for the most RBIs in a single game this season, finishing one shy of the all-time mark of seven runs driven in. LF Mike O'Neill added four singles, three RBIs and three runs, while CF James Ramsey added a home run, two doubles, four runs and two RBIs. 

The Cardinals (16-16, 49-51) again jumped in front with a solo blast in the bottom of the first against the Drillers. Facing RHP Christian Bergman (L, 5-7) with one on and one down, Ramsey crushed a solo home run over the left field wall, swinging Springfield into the early 1-0 advantage.

The Cards poured on three more in the bottom of the second. With one away, C Cody Stanley placed an infield single inside the third base line and raced to second on a throwing error on the play. 2B Colin Walsh quickly brought Stanley home with an RBI single to right field, before racing around to third on a base hit from SS Jake Lemmerman. Lemmerman took second on a sacrifice bunt from RHP Richard Castillo, and then O'Neill plated both runners with a two-out, two-run single to center, making it 4-0.

Castillo (W, 7-6) kept the Drillers (13-19, 47-53) off the board through his first three innings, but Tulsa chipped the deficit down with single runs in the fourth and fifth. 1B Kiel Roling got the Drillers on the board in the fourth with a solo home run. Tulsa then edged closer in the fifth, sparked by a one-out double from C Dustin Garneau. Garneau came darting in on an RBI single by 3B Joey Wong to center field, slicing the deficit to 4-2.

However, Springfield responded with two tallies in the bottom of the fifth. After Bergman started the inning with an out, O'Neill placed a single to shallow left field. Ramsey doubled O'Neill to third base, before Gotay brought him home with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field. RF Chris Swauger followed with an RBI double to deep left-center, plating Ramsey from second for the 6-2 advantage.

The Cardinals further increased the lead against RHP Josh Mueller in the bottom of the sixth. Walsh singled himself on with one down and promptly swiped his way to second base. One out later, pinch hitter Adam Melker bounced an infield single that moved Walsh to third and kept the inning going for O'Neill. O'Neill struck again with an RBI single to left field, plating Walsh and moving Melker to second base. After Ramsey worked a walk to load the bases with two away, Gotay crushed a bases-clearing, three-run double off the top of the left-center field wall, blowing the lead open to 10-2.

Springfield wrapped up the onslaught with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth. A one-out, pinch-hit double by Tyler Rahmatulla started the final charge. He took third base on a single from O'Neill, before an RBI double by Ramsey. Gotay then dealt his final blow with a two-run single, scoring O'Neill and Ramsey to account for the 13-2 final in the runaway win for the Cardinals.

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

The Cardinals go for the series sweep against Tulsa this Wednesday at 7:09pm. Gates open at 6:09pm.

The Cardinals then kick off the four-game series against Northwest Arkansas with Christmas in July this Thursday at 7:09pm. The festive evening features the Great Southern Bank Texas League Championship Trophy Snow Globe Giveaway (2,500). Thursday is also a Johnsonville "Buck a Brat" Night and will feature Missouri Lottery Baseball Bingo. Gates open at 6:09pm.

The series continues with a can't-miss AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks Show featuring Classic Rock Music this Friday after the 7:09pm game. Gates open at 6:09pm. 

On Saturday, it's the Hiland Dairy Texas League Championship Ceramic Ice Cream/Cereal Bowl Giveaway (2,500) with a 6:09pm First Pitch. Saturday will also feature the DSGO Step Up for Down Syndrome. Gates open at 5:09pm.

The homestand wraps up with a special evening this Sunday, featuring the Cline Dental Stan Musial Statue Giveaway (2,500). Sunday is also a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with a free ice cream party for kids before the game, and all kids can run the bases after the game. First Pitch is 6:09pm with gates opening 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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