Voit paces Cardinals to 6-2 win in Frisco finale

Frisco, TX - 1B Luek Voit drove in three runs to help pace the 1st-Half North Division Champion Springfield Cardinals to the 6-2 win against the Frisco RoughRiders before 5,302 fans at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Thursday night.

The Cardinals (25-27, 66-56) charged in front in the top of the first inning against RHP Ariel Jurado. With one away, 3B Paul DeJong drilled his 22nd double of the year to right-center field. After taking third on a wild pitch, DeJong raced home on an RBI sacrifice fly from 1B Luke Voit, opening the 1-0 lead for Springfield.

Cardinals RHP Johnny Walter navigated through two scoreless innings to start, but Frisco (20-33, 58-64) tied it in the bottom of the third. With one down, SS Alberto Triunfel was hit by a pitch. CF Darin Mastroianni then bounced into a fielder's choice that retired Triunfel but put Mastroianni at first base with two down. After Mastroianni stole second base, LF Eduard Pinto came through with the game-tying RBI single, scoring Mastroianni to even it, 1-1.

The Cardinals, though, reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth. After CF Vaughn Bryan reached on a fielder's choice, he swiped his way to second base. DeJong then pulled a single to left field, advancing Bryan to third and putting runners at the corners for Voit. Voit collected his second RBI of the night and 65th of the season, ripping an RBI single through the left side to score Bryan and lift the Cardinals back in front, 2-1.

Walter kept the narrow lead intact through the sixth inning, but the RoughRiders rallied in the bottom of the seventh. With one away, Walter lost C Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a free pass, leading to RHP Ronnie Shaban (W, 8-3) taking over. After 1B Edwin Garcia reached on an error, SS Alberto Triunfel drove an RBI double to left field to score Kiner-Falefa for the 2-2 tie.

The Cardinals wasted no time in once again taking the lead right back, striking for two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Voit started the charge with a leadoff walk, followed by a single from LF Jonathan Rodriguez. A sacrifice bunt from CF Blake Drake moved the runners to second and third, leading to LHP Juan Grullon entering the game for Frisco. However, C Jesse Jenner won the battle against Grullon, punching a two-run double inside the first base line to plate both Voit and Rodriguez for the 4-2 Springfield lead.

Shaban retired two outs in the bottom of the eighth around a double, giving way to RHP Josh Lucas (S, 15) with one on and two down. Lucas made quick work of Kiner-Falefa, inducing an inning-ending pop out to keep it a two-run lead for the Cardinals.

Springfield then added insurance in the top of the ninth inning. With SS Joey Hawkins at first and two away, Voit hammered an RBI double to the left field fence, bringing in Hawkins all the way from first base. Rodriguez then returned the favor, scoring Voit with an RBI single to left-center, capping the Cardinals charge for the 6-2 lead.

Lucas came back out for the bottom of the ninth and rebounded from a one-out single with back-to-back strikeouts, closing the 6-2 win for the Cardinals and moving into a tie for the league lead with his 15th save.

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

Final Regular Season Homestand at Hammons Field begins on Tuesday, August 23

The Cardinals continue the road trip on Friday in Midland at 7pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

Springfield then returns to Hammons Field for the final homestand of the Regular Season from Tuesday, August 23 - Monday, August 29. Don't miss any of the upcoming fun, including:

-Tuesday, August 23, 6:30pm - Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Wednesday, August 24, 6:30pm - Wednesday Night Baseball vs. the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Thursday, August 25, 7:10pm - Budweiser St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Championship Beer Stein Giveaway (2,000, ages 21+) and a Klement's "Buck a Brat" Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, August 26, 7:10pm - AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks featuring 2016 Top Hits. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, August 27, 6:10pm - St. Louis Cardinals Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina "Final Out" Dual Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and a Specialty Jersey Auction to benefit GYNCA. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, August 28, 2:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 1:10pm.

-Monday, August 29, 6:30pm - Fan Appreciation Day Free Vouchers for a 2017 Game, End of Season Fireworks Celebration and Pasta Express $1 Kids Orders of Toasted Ravioli. Gates open at 5:30pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking an Urban Cup Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here to view the full 2016 Promotional Schedule.

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