The Springfield Cardinals got a much-needed victory in Tulsa on Friday night, scoring six times in the ninth inning for a 9-4 win over the Tulsa Drillers.  Twelve men came to the plate in the ninth inning as the Cards snapped a three-game skid. 

Travis Hanson’s third hit of the night, an RBI single to right field, tied the game at 4-4 in the ninth.  Three batters later, Dan Moylan untied the game with a two-out, bases-loaded double, making it 7-4.  Brendan Ryan and Shaun Boyd would also collect RBI hits, making it 9-4.  Cory Doyne worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning as the Drillers went quietly. 

The Drillers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over Randy Leek and the Springfield Cardinals.  Leek allowed home runs to Jayson Nix and Corey Slavik in the first inning, as Tulsa went up 2-0.  They added a run in the third, as Chris Iannetta tripled home Slavik, making it 3-0.

The Cards got a run in the fourth against Tulsa starter Ubaldo Jimenez.  Cody Haerther’s fielder’s choice plated a run, making it 3-1.  The Cards would draw even in the sixth, tying the game at 3-3.  Travis Hanson led off the inning with a home run to right field, his 15th of the year, making it 3-2.  After two-out walks to Dan Moylan and Brendan Ryan, Randy Leek ripped his second double of the night down the right field line.  On the play, Moylan scored to tie the game at 3-3.

Cards reliever Josh Kinney uncharacteristically walked four hitters in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Tulsa a 4-3 lead without the aid of a hit.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Kevin Ool (1-0) came out of the Springfield pen, retiring the only man he faced, striking out Tony Miller for the final out of the eighth inning.

Jentry Beckstead began the ninth for the Drillers, in search of his third save of the year.  Beckstead allowed a lead-off single to Shaun Boyd, who eventually scored the tying run.  Beckstead (5-3) allowed a total of six run, recording just two outs in the ninth inning.

With the win, the Cards are now 15-19, snapping their three-game losing streak.  Springfield is now four games back of the Wichita Wranglers in the East Division. 

The Cards continue their 13-game road trip on Saturday night in Tulsa.  Chris Lambert (2-3) of the Cardinals takes on Enmanuel Ulloa (4-3) of the Drillers.  Game time from Drillers Stadium is 7:05pm.  The Cardinals return to Hammons Field on Thursday, August 11 to take on the Midland RockHounds.  Tickets are always available at (417) 863-2143 or online at www.springfieldcardinals.com.