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Cardinals lead unravels in tough 9th, Missions win 8-3

August 15, 2018

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Seth Elledge got the strikeout he needed to secure a 2-1 Cardinals win, but the ball didn't cooperate. And then it all unraveled.With a runner on first and two outs, Elledge struckout Josh Naylor on a 1-2 pitch, but the strikeout was wild, ricocheting to the backstop

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Seth Elledge got the strikeout he needed to secure a 2-1 Cardinals win, but the ball didn't cooperate. And then it all unraveled.

With a runner on first and two outs, Elledge struckout Josh Naylor on a 1-2 pitch, but the strikeout was wild, ricocheting to the backstop and allowing Naylor to reach and Hudson Potts to advance to third.

A batter later, Kyle Overstreet tied it. A batter after that, Austin Allen drove home the game-winning run. Six batters later a nearly 2-1 win for the Cardinals had turned into an eventual 8-3 win for San Antonio Wednesday night at Hammons Field.

Derian Gonzalez was unable to stop the bleeding that began after Elledge's would-be third out, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks before finally escaping the flood.

Elledge had pitched a scoreless eighth before entering the ninth looking for a two-inning save. He'd allowed just one run in seven innings with the Cardinals before being charged with four tonight. His 39 pitches were a career high in 57 Minor League appearances.

Blake Drake ledoff the bottom of the ninth with his sixth homer of the year for the 8-3 final.

Cardinals starter Casey Meisner allowed one run on four hits and four walks over five innings, striking out one.

After being shut out for the first 14 innings of the series, the Cardinals broke through with their first lead in the sixth.

John Nogowski got the rally started with a one-out single to left. Two batters later, Johan Mieses hit a deep pop-up that bounced off the top of the wall in left for a double. Nogowski scored, tying the game 1-1. The 2-1 lead came a batter later when Chase Pinder smacked the first pitch from Gerardo Reyes to left, scoring Mieses.

Andy Young extended his on-base streak to 21 games by reaching on an error in the first inning. He later singled in the seventh. Young has reached base in every game with Springfield since being assigned to the Cardinals from High-A Palm Beach.

The Missions led 1-0 through five thanks to Potts's second homer in as many games.

UP NEXT AND IN THE END

The Cardinals end their series with the Missions on Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:10pm and gates set to open at 6:10pm.

Thursday's game also marks the final game ever between San Antonio in Springfield with the Missions moving to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2019. The Cardinals lead the season series 6-5 and the all-time series 86-83.

Thursday is our Henry's Towing Team Card Set Giveaway for 2,000 fans. The 2019 Team Card Set features our entire current roster in addition to special "Springfield-to-Memphis" and "Rehabbing Cardinals" inserts, including names like Yadier Molina, Carlos Martínez, Alex Reyes and Adam Wainwright.

Fans can enjoy bratwurst all game Thursday for just a buck courtesy of Klement's $1 Bratwurst Night. Thursday also happens to be National Bratwurst Day.