Boyd powers Cards to win over Drillers

NEWS-LEADER STAFF

Shaun Boyd was a one-man wrecking crew Monday night, belting two home runs and driving in six runs in the Springfield Cardinals' 13-5 win over the Tulsa Drillers.

The Cardinals picked up a victory in big-time fashion in front of 8,382 to end the five-game series, taking two at Drillers Stadium in Tulsa, Okla.

Tulsa took a 2-1 lead after the first inning, but then it was all Springfield.

Boyd (3-for-5) began his assault in the fourth inning, hitting a three-run home run over the left-field fence off starter Zack Parker.

On his next at bat in the fifth inning, Boyd did it again, this time off reliever Yusuke Arakawa.

Boyd, who had just one home run all season coming into the series, has hit three in the last two games.

On Sunday, Boyd led off the game with a home run against Ramon Ramirez.

Boyd's outburst marked the first time a Cardinal notched six RBIs in a game. It was the fourth time a Springfield player had a multi-homer game.

Boyd was joined in the slugger's category by Aaron Herr (who hit his 17th on the year), Gabe Johnson (second) and Brendan Ryan (first).

It was the third consecutive night that Herr homered. Johnson has connected in back-to-back games.

The Cardinals hit a season-high five home runs and equaled their season-best 13 runs scored in the contest.

Johnson was 3-for-5 with the round-tripper and two singles.

Four straight hits led to an outburst for the Cardinals in the fourth inning, during which they scored eight runs.

A single by Travis Hanson, Johnson's home run, Papo Bolivar's single and Kevin Estrada's double got things started for the Cardinals.

Springfield batted around in the inning, racing out to a 9-2 lead that would not be threatened.

Picking up the victory was Jeremy Cummings (5-3), who pitched 6 1/3 innings for his third straight win. Cummings gave up five runs on six hits, also making an offensive contribution.

In the fourth inning, Cummings laid down a successful suicide squeeze, scoring Estrada from third to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.

Parker (10-7) took the loss, giving up nine runs in just four innings of work.

Jud Thigpen's two-run home run to left in the first inning gave Tulsa its only lead of the game.

Tulsa got a run in the fifth and another in the seventh to make it 12-5, but Ryan answered the uprising with a solo shot to left-center for his first Double-A home run.

Arakawa and Edwardo Sierra pitched five innings of relief for the Drillers and yielded six earned runs on four hits.

Andy Cavazos and Jeremy Cook worked the final 2 2/3 innings of the game, pitching scoreless relief.

Springfield is now 2-3 on the current 13-game road trip, and the team hits the road to visit Texas League East Division leader Arkansas for the first of a five-game series today.

Jordan Pals (5-8) takes the mound against Steven Shell of Arkansas at 7:10 p.m.