Cards top Drillers 6-5 in series opener, win 5th straight

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals (5-7) pushed their win streak to five games Monday night with a 6-5 series opening win over the Tulsa Drillers (5-6) at Hammons Field.

The 5-0 home start is a new organization record for the best start to a home schedule in Springfield's 15-year history, breaking 2010's 4-0 start. The 2010 Cardinals finished the season 76-64 and lost in the Texas League Semi-Finals.

DECISIONS:
W: RHP Williams Pérez (1-1)
L: RHP Justin De Fratus (0-1)
S: RHP Seth Elledge (1)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- 2B Irving Lopez's two-run homer in the third inning pulled the Cardinals within 3-2 and his second of the game in the fifth gave Springfield the lead for good at 5-3.

- 1B Chris Chinea tied the game 3-3 with a solo shot to center in the fourth, fully erasing a 3-0 Cardinals deficit that came courtesy of a three-run second inning by Tulsa.

- A two-out RBI single by C José Godoy proved the difference. That hit scored Evan Mendoza and put the Cardinals ahead 6-4 in the eighth. Gavin Lux then led off the top of the ninth with a solo home run to pull the Drillers within 6-5 before Seth Elledge nailed down the final three outs for the save.

NOTABLES:
- The two home runs by Lopez gives the second baseman five dingers in his last six games and four in the first five games of the Cardinals homestand.

- 3B Evan Mendoza's six-game hit streak ended with an 0-for-3 night.

- The save by Elledge was the first successful save attempt by Cardinals relievers this season.

COMING UP TUESDAY AT HAMMONS!
- Hot dogs. Day baseball. $1 hot dogs and day baseball. Combine these good things Tuesday when you can eat all the $1 hot dogs you can handle thanks to Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day!

First pitch is set for 11:10am on Tuesday with gates opening at 10:10am.