Memphis
Redbirds Fall in Round Rock, 7-6
SpringfieldThe Memphis Redbirds (4-7) scored in five-straight innings from the third-through-seventh Sunday afternoon in Round Rock, Texas, but the Round Rock Express (Astros) matched them and scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to secure a 7-6 win over the Redbirds.
Four of Memphis' eight hits went for extra bases, with three doubles and an Adolis Garcia home run. Garcia also had one of the doubles and drove in three runs on the day. Six different Redbirds scored one of the team's runs in the ballgame.
Austin Gomber gave up four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings for Memphis, and he fired 53 of 79 pitches for strikes. Ryan Meisinger followed Gomber and allowed one more run to score in the fifth, and he was tagged by Taylor Jones for a three-run home run in the top of the sixth that put Round Rock (7-4) ahead, 7-5.
Memphis got a run back in the top of the seventh with John Nogowski doubling, moving to third on a Garcia sacrifice bunt, and scoring on a groundout by Max Schrock, but the Redbirds would get no closer than the eventual final tally of 7-6 after going down in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Alex Reyes pitched the final 2.0 innings for Memphis and did not allow a hit with three walks and two strikeouts.
The Redbirds were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and committed three errors.
Cardinals sweep Naturals thanks to 3rd walk-off in 4 days
The Springfield Cardinals (4-7) swept the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (4-7) by an 8-6 final Saturday at Hammons Field off the team's third walk-off win in four days.
The win pushed the Cardinals win streak to four games after an 0-7 start to the season on the road. The 4-0 home start ties the 2010 Cardinals for the best start to a home schedule in organization history. The 2010 Cardinals finished the season 76-64 and lost in the Texas League Semi-Finals.
DECISIONS:
W: RHP Merandy Gonzalez (1-1)
L: RHP Grant Gavin (2-1)
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- 2B Irving Lopez started this series with a walk-off home run and he ended it with one on Sunday. Lopez's two-run shot came with one out in the bottom of the 10th with RF Scott Hurst at second.
- In the top of the 10th, Gonzalez kept the game tied 6-6 despite the Naturals placing runners on the corners with no outs. First, Gonzalez induced a Xavier Fernandez ground ball that ended with Meibrys Viloria being thrown out at third. That key play was followed by a shallow fly out to center and a strikeout to preserve the tie.
- The Naturals tied the game with three runs in the eighth off Cardinals RHP Will Latcham.
NOTABLES:
- RHP Anthony Shew went 5.0 full innings, striking out six for the second straight start and leaving the game in line for the win.
- Lopez's walk-off homer was his second walk-off home run in the four-game series and his third homer of the season. Lopez now has seven extra-base hits in just 34 Double-A at-bats.
- Rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals RHP Luke Gregerson tossed a scoreless 6th inning, striking out two and extending his Springfield Cardinals scoreless innings streak to 21.0.
- 1B Evan Mendoza extended his hit streak to six games with a 1-for-4 day, scoring twice.
- The sweep is the first for the Cardinals at home over the Naturals since July 15-18, 2018.
Palm Beach
Peoria
Off Day