Springfield Rallies Past Wichita Behind Paige’s Three-Run Blast
Cardinal Chronicle
Morning Farm Report
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Springfield Rallies Past Wichita Behind Paige’s Three-Run Blast
The Cardinals’ minor league system had a quiet Memorial Day schedule, with only Springfield in action Monday night. The Double-A Cardinals made sure the lone game carried enough offense for the whole farm.
Springfield Cardinals — 19-27, 5th Place, Texas League North
Springfield 11, Wichita 6
Springfield erased a 6-3 deficit and scored eight unanswered runs to beat the Wichita Wind Surge 11-6 at Hammons Field. Trey Paige delivered the biggest swing of the night, launching a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to put Springfield in front for good. The Cardinals finished with 11 runs on 12 hits and played error-free baseball in the win. Springfield’s own recap also noted that Paige’s seventh-inning homer swung the game and that the Cardinals closed the night with eight straight runs.
Springfield jumped out early with two runs in the first inning, then added another in the third, but Wichita answered with one run in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead.
From there, the Cardinals took over.
Travis Honeyman cut into the deficit with a two-run home run in the sixth, his first of the season, pulling Springfield within a run. An inning later, Paige changed the game with one swing, driving a three-run homer that gave the Cardinals an 8-6 lead. Springfield added three more runs in the eighth to put the game away.
Paige finished 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Rainiel Rodriguez had one of his best nights since joining Springfield, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in his Route 66 Stadium debut, which was also highlighted in the club recap.
Honeyman went 1-for-2 with a homer, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Jon Jon Gazdar added two hits, a walk and an RBI, while Ryan Campos drove in a run and scored twice. Noah Mendlinger reached three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored.
On the mound, starter Brandt Thompson worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. The bullpen picked him up. Hunter Hayes, Austin Love, Michael Watson and Jack Findlay combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while striking out seven.
Watson earned the win with two perfect innings, striking out three without allowing a hit or a walk. Findlay closed it out with a scoreless ninth, striking out two and lowering his ERA to 1.54.
Player of the Day: Trey Paige, Springfield Cardinals
Trey Paige earns Player of the Day honors after going 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored in Springfield’s 11-6 win over Wichita.
Paige’s three-run shot in the seventh inning was the decisive blow, turning a one-run deficit into a two-run lead and completing Springfield’s comeback. On a day when the entire system was mostly quiet, Paige gave the Cardinals’ farm report its headline swing.
Pitcher of the Day: Michael Watson, Springfield Cardinals
Michael Watson earns Pitcher of the Day honors after throwing two perfect innings in relief.
Watson struck out three, did not issue a walk and did not allow a hit. Just as important, he stabilized the game after Springfield’s early lead had slipped away. His clean seventh and eighth innings gave the Cardinals’ offense room to complete the comeback and helped secure the win.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports