Not even a little rain could slow down the Springfield Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon.  After a 44-minute rain delay prevented the series finale from starting on time, the Cards scored early and often, knocking off the Frisco RoughRiders by a final score of 8-6 at Hammons Field.  The win for the Redbirds completes a successful seven-game home stand, as Springfield finishes the home stand at 5-2, winning three of four from Frisco.   Springfield is now just three games back of Arkansas, pending the results of Arkansas’ game versus the Midland RockHounds. 

Bill Pulsipher, who started the season in the St. Louis bullpen, made his Springfield debut after being sent down from Triple-A Memphis.  Pulsipher (1-0) surrendered a pair of solo home runs over 6.2 innings.  The left-hander scattered eight hits, striking out seven, while only walking one.  

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Aaron Herr led off the inning with a single, then alertly tagged and moved to second on a fly ball to deep center field.  With one out, Papo Bolivar grounded one back to pitcher Ron Mahay (0-1).  The Frisco starter’s throw glanced off the glove of first baseman Nate Gold however, allowing Herr to score the first run of the game.

Leading 1-0 in the third, Brendan Ryan opened the inning with a triple into the right field corner.  Shaun Boyd’s RBI double to right-center plated Ryan, making it a 2-0 advantage.  Rick Ankiel followed with an RBI single, making it 3-0. 

Springfield native Jason Hart picked up a solo home run to lead off the top of the fifth.  His 18th homer of the year put Frisco on the board at 3-1. 

The Cardinals would answer for three in the bottom half of the fifth though, building a 6-1 lead.  After a one-out walk to Matt Pagnozzi, Shaun Boyd hit a hot ground ball to third baseman Seth Taylor.  Instead of a potential inning-ending double play, Taylor’s throw to second went off the glove of Jace Brewer, allowing runners to move to second and third.  After a two-out walk to Tyler Minges loaded the bases, Aaron Herr would come up big, grounding a two-run single into center field.  On the play, center fielder Ruddy Yan overran the baseball, allowing Minges to score all the way from first base, making it 6-1.

The Riders rallied for four runs, making it a one-run game in the eighth inning against Cards reliever Jeremy Cook.  Two Cardinal errors in the inning made three out of the four runs unearned.  Nate Gold’s two-run double highlighted the inning, making it 7-5. The Riders chased home another run with an RBI groundout from Jason Hart, making it 7-6.  Joe Nelson, who came on to face Jason Hart, would halt the Frisco rally, retiring the final two hitters of the inning with the tying run left stranded at third base. 

The Cards got a crucial insurance run with two outs in the eighth, as Shaun Boyd’s RBI bunt-single plated Brendan Ryan for an 8-6 lead. 

Nelson remained in the game and worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out Jace Brewer to end it, recording his first save in a Springfield uniform. 

The Cardinals (24-28) hit the road and open up a four-game series in Midland on Thursday night.  Jordan Pals (5-10) goes for Springfield on Thursday evening.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm.  The Cardinals return home to Hammons Field on Tuesday, August 23rd to face the Tulsa Drillers.  Tickets are available by calling (417) 863-2143 or online at www.springfieldcardinals.com.