Rough start, finish upend Cardenales in loss to Surge

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Wichita Wind Surge put up six runs over the first two innings and six more over the last two Thursday night, beating los Cardenales de Springfield 14-6 at Hammons Field.

Despite the final differential, the game remained close for much of the night. Springfield drew within 6-3 in the bottom of the second off an RBI single by Nick Dunn and a pair of sacrifice flies courtesy of David Vinsky and Irving Lopez. Two innings later, Brendan Donovan made it 6-4 with a two-out RBI single, scoring Dunn.

Uh ohhhh! From 6-0 to 6-4 after this @bdonovan_42 single 🪜🪜🪜@budweiserusa x #BudweiserUSA pic.twitter.com/BSBGTbah4q

— Cardenales de Springfield (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 20, 2021

After Wichita extended its lead to 8-4 in the fifth, Julio Rodriguez chipped things to 8-5 when he drove his second double of the season to the fence in right, allowing Nick Plummer to cross. Rodriguez drove in Plummer again with a ninth-inning RBI single and finished his night 4-for-5 with one run and two RBIs. It was the first four-hit game for Rodriguez since June 22, 2019 when he went 4-for-4 with then Low-A Peoria.

Hey hey Julio! Still battling. 😤 pic.twitter.com/lVzaDE2Iyc

— Cardenales de Springfield (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 20, 2021

Thursday's game was a Copa de la Diversion night for Springfield, adopting the Cardenales identity for the second and final time in 2021. Los Cardenales will return to Springfield during the 2022 season.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals look to even the six-game series with the Wind Surge on Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and gates opening at 6:05 p.m. Friday's Hammons Field promotions include the Mercy Navy Crossbody Cardinals Purse Giveaway (2,000 fans), Girl Power Friday Fireworks and Happy Half-Hour.