The San Antonio Missions took the opening game of the three-game series on Friday night, knocking off the Springfield Cardinals by a final score of 5-2 at Hammons Field.
San Antonio starter Travis Chick, making just his second appearance for the Missions, was dominating, allowing just two runs on four hits over seven innings.
Chick allowed a two-out RBI double to Travis Hanson in the third, as the Cards tied the game at 1-1. After the Missions got four in the fifth, Chick (1-0) made only one more mistake, giving up a solo shot to Cody Haerther, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday.
San Antonio broke through offensively against Cards' starter Eric Haberer (1-1) in the fifth. With the bases loaded and only one out, Haberer struck out Jesus Guzman, keeping the game tied at 1-1. Yung Chi Chen would come through though, ripping a two-run single to left, giving the Missions a 3-1 lead. After an intentional walk to Wladimir Balentien re-loaded the bases, Marshall Hubbard picked up another two-run single, making it a four-run game at 5-1.
Haerther's homer in the bottom of the inning would be the final tally for the Cards, as his first home run since May 29th and sixth of the year, landed on top of the indoor training facility in right field.
Justin Garza and Chris Russ combined to work four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, giving the Cards' offense a chance to rally.
In the bottom of the ninth, San Antonio brought reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith out of the bullpen to close the game. Rowland-Smith retired the first two hitters, but walked Jarrett Hoffpauir and Dan Moylan, bringing the tying run to the plate. Pinch hitter Amaury Marti was caught looking on strikes to end it, giving Rowland-Smith his second save of the year.
Springfield sees their brief two-game winning streak come to an end, as they fall to 9-11 in the second half. The Cards and Missions will go at it again on Saturday night, as Springfield will send Blake Hawksworth (0-1) to the mound against Robert Rohrbaugh (2-0). On Saturday, 2,500 kids ages 15 and under will receive a free Springfield Cardinals Back Pack Lunch Box, thanks to Hiland Dairy. Game time is 6:10pm. Great tickets are available for Saturday's game by calling (417) 863-2143 or online at
www.springfieldcardinals.com. Don't forget that Sunday is another Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday, as kids 12 and under will receive free pre-game ice cream thanks to Hiland Dairy. Game time on Sunday is also 6:10pm.