Missions win slugfest at Hammons Field

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals were topped by the San Antonio Missions, 15-9, in an offensive battle before 4,238 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday evening.  Cardinals CF Tommy Pham finished 3-for-5, just missing hitting for the cycle by a double.

After RHP Seth Blair (L, 0-1) retired the first six Missions in a row, San Antonio (6-4) charged in front with four runs in the top of the third inning.  With C Eddy Rodriguez at second and one down, RHP Wilfredo Boscan placed an RBI single to left-center to open the scoring.  The Missions worked the bases loaded with a walk and a base hit, before a two-out, bases-clearing double by 1B A.J. Kirby-Jones stretched the lead to 4-0.

However, the Cardinals (3-7) responded right away in the bottom of the fourth against Boscan.  Blair sparked the rally with a one-out walk and quickly raced to third on a double down the left-field line by LF Mike O'Neill.  Boscan struck out SS Jake Lemmerman, but 3B Ruben Gotay ripped a two-run double to right field, plating Blair and O'Neill.  Gotay then trotted home on a two-run blast by 1B Xavier Scruggs over the left-center field wall, evening the score at 4-4.

Springfield kept swinging away in the bottom of the fourth.  CF Tommy Pham led off with a solo bomb, lifting the Cardinals in front.  Later in the frame with 2B Starlin Rodriguez at second and two down, O'Neill delivered with an RBI double to make it a two-run lead.  Lemmerman followed with an RBI single to center, driving in O'Neill and  stretching the advantage to 7-4.

However, San Antonio responded with an 11-run top of the fifth.  The Missions rallied, utilizing 15 hits in the frame to take the 15-7 lead.

The Cardinals refused to go down quietly, chipping away with a run in the eighth and the ninth.  Pham started the eighth with a triple and quickly scored on an RBI grounder by 2B Vance Albitz.  O'Neill then led off the ninth with a single, working around to third on a wild pitch and a ground out.  On another wild one from RHP Josh Geer, O'Neill was able to dart home from third base, accounting for the 15-9 eventual final score in the Missions win.

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

The Cardinals take on the Missions at Hammons Field on Monday with a 7:09 First Pitch.  Gates open at 6:09 p.m.

The two teams then wrap up the series with an 11:09 a.m. start on Tuesday morning.  It will be a Discovery Center Science Behind Magic Educational Day and High School Career Day.  Tuesday is also Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day with hot dogs for just a buck! Gates open at 10:09 a.m.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, ordering the new Friday, Saturday, and Promo Items Packs (only 100 available), the custom-designed Championship Packs (only 100 available) or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-0395 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

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