Cardinals tally 18 hits in 13-9 win over RoughRiders, split series

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals (30-36; 60-76) used an eight-run seventh inning to beat the Frisco RoughRiders (32-33; 65-69) 13-9 behind 18 hits on Thursday night in front of a sellout crowd of 7,098 at Hammons Field.

DECISIONS:
W: RHP Alex FaGalde (4-5)
L: RHP Blake Bass (8-4)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- Trailing 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Cardinals scored eight runs and sent 12 batters to the plate in what ended up being an eight-run inning. C Brian O'Keefe led off the inning with a groundout, but then eight consecutive Cardinals reached base. Runs crossed on an RBI single by 1B Chris Chinea that made it 7-6, a passed ball that brought CF Conner Capel home and tied it 7-7, a two-RBI single by 2B Kramer Robertson that put Springfield up 9-7, an RBI double by SS Rayder Ascanio that pushed things to 10-7, an RBI single by Zach Kirtley that made it 11-7, and a home run by Johan Mieses which capped the inning at 13-7. Seven of the eight runs in the inning were charged to Bass.

- Just an inning earlier, the Cardinals held a 3-0 lead over Frisco before the RoughRiders put six runs on the board in the top of the sixth.

- Suddenly trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals seemed to take momentum back on a pair of RBI singles by rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals OF José Martínez and Ascanio.

NOTABLES:
- Ascanio led all batters with a 4-for-6 night out of the leadoff spot, driving in two runs and scoring two more. Ascanio has hits in 12 of his last 13 games (19-for-50) and is batting .380 over that stretch.

- Martinez continued to swing a hot bat over his rehab stint in Springfield, finishing Thursday 3-for-4 with an RBI. Through four rehab starts, he's 7-for-13 with four RBIs.

- LHP Austin Gomber opened for Springfield and tossed two perfect innings, striking out one.

- Capel finished his night 3-for-5 with three runs.

- The 18 hits are the most for the Cardinals in a game since July 21, 2018, when they finished with 19 hits at Arkansas.

- Springfield's 13 runs ties their season-high, done previously on April 22 in a 13-7 win over Amarillo.

WHAT'S ON DECK:
-The Cardinals begin a four-game series and their final series of the 2019 season on Friday night against the Midland RockHounds at Hammons Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. with gates opening at 6:10 p.m.

Friday is our St. Louis Cardinals 1944 World Championship Replica Ring Giveaway for 2,000 fans.

Plus, it's Friday Night Fireworks with Rock & Roll HOF Inductees.