Cardinals drop 2-1 pitchers duel in front of sold out crowd

July 26, 2019

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals (18-16, 48-56) lost 2-1 in a pitchers duel with the Amarillo Sod Poodles (19-15, 53-49) on Friday night in front of a sold out crowd of 6,786 at Hammons Field.

DECISIONS:
W: LHP MacKenzie Gore (2-0)
L: RHP Angel Rondon (4-3)
S: RHP David Bednar (7)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- Just like in Thursday's 3-1 loss, a two-run Amarillo inning ended up being the difference. On Friday it was the two-run sixth, when a bases-loaded walk drawn by C Kyle Overstreet followed by a wild pitch by RHP Ronnie Williams put Amarillo up 2-0.

- Cardinals C Brian O'Keefe's eighth home run of the season brought Springfield within 2-1 in the eighth.

NOTABLES:
- O'Keefe was the only Cardinals batter and only one of two batters in the game with two hits, finishing the night 2-for-4.

- St. Louis Cardinals 3B Matt Carpenter was 0-for-3 with a walk in his first rehab appearance with Springfield. Carpenter is expected to be in Springfield through Tuesday.

- Rondon allowed one run on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings, striking out six. The one run crossed on Williams's bases-loaded walk in the sixth.

- Gore, the Padres top prospect, tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, holding the Cardinals to four hits and one walk to six strikeouts.

WHAT'S ON DECK:
-The Cardinals open a four-game series with the Corpus Christi Hooks on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. and gates opening at 5:10 p.m.

Saturday is our Hiland Dairy Etched Cardinals Cutting Board Giveaway for 2,000 fans.