Tyler Minges snapped a 3-3 tie with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning, propelling the Springfield Cardinals to a 5-3 victory over the Wichita Wranglers on Friday night at Hammons Field.  The win for the Cards is their second straight over the first-place Wranglers, cutting Wichita’s lead to just two games over the Cards. 

Minges’ shot was his career-best 17th of the year.  With two outs and the bases empty, Colt Griffin’s 3-2 pitch was hammered into the left field bullpen, giving the Cards a 4-3 lead.

Winning pitcher Jeremy Cummings (4-3) turned in his second straight win, working into the eighth inning, surrendering three runs on six hits.

The Wranglers took a 2-0 lead in the third as Shane Costa, appearing in his first game for the Wranglers since being sent down from Kansas City, ripped a two-run homer to right-center field, his sixth of the year. 

The Cards scored the next three runs of the game.  In the fourth inning, Tyler Minges picked up a lead-off single against Wichita reliever Derrin Ebert.  Minges eventually scored on one of two Travis Hanson run-scoring singles, putting the Cards on the board at 2-1.  The Cards got two in the fifth, as Juan Diaz picked up an RBI single, bringing home Brendan Ryan to tie the game at 2-2.  Hanson followed with another RBI hit, bringing in Minges, who scored three of the five Springfield runs.

The Wranglers got even in the seventh inning, as Cummings allowed an RBI single to Brett Groves, tying the game at 3-3.  With runners at first and second with one out in the seventh, Cummings got Mel Stocker to ground into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play, killing the Wichita rally.

After an error allowed Wichita to put the tying run on base, Cummings was pulled in favor of Chris Mears with one out in the eighth.  Right-hander Chris Mears was summoned to face the Texas League’s leading hitter, Justin Huber.  Mears would fly out to deep center for the second out of the inning.  Anthony Rawson came on to get the final out, getting left-handed hitter Josh Pressley to ground into an inning-ending fielder’s choice. 

The Cards added an unearned run in the eighth against Colt Griffin (1-1), taking a 5-3 lead on a Cody Haerther ground ball.

Cory Doyne came on and worked a 1-2-3 ninth, earning his 11th save of the year, tops on the team.

The Cardinals (13-14) host the Wichita Wranglers (15-12) in the fifth game of the nine-game home stand.  Saturday night is a great night for the kids, as 2,500 kids ages 15 and under will receive a free lunch box featuring Travis Hanson and Louie the Cards’ mascot, thanks to Hiland Dairy.  Gates open at 4:10pm and game time is 6:10pmTickets are available at (417) 863-2143 or online at www.springfieldcardinals.com.