SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A strong Hammons Field debut for Genesis Cabrera was spoiled Friday by a late Hooks rally and a controversial umpiring decision.
Acquired by St. Louis at the trade deadline from Tampa Bay in the Tommy Pham deal, Cabrera tossed six shutout innings before a pair of earned runs and two more unearned runs turned a 3-0 Cardinals lead into a 4-3 deficit in an eventual 5-3 loss in front of 5,590 fans.
In a 3-3 game with one out in the seventh, reliever Junior Fernandez got Ryne Birk to pop out behind the plate. Cardinals catcher Andrew Knizner easily secured the out and appeared to signal for time, but time wasn’t granted.
Josh Rojas noticed the decision from third base and sprinted home for the go-ahead run. The Cardinals protested the 10-foot sacrifice fly in foul territory, but the decision stood.
CABRERA IMPRESSES
Cabrera walked off to loud applause after striking out five over six-plus innings of work, allowing four hits and two walks while touching 97 mph on the stadium’s radar gun.
The 21-year-old lefty has 13 strikeouts over 14 innings in three starts with Springfield.
THE FIRST 6 FRAMES
The Cardinals broke through first Friday with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Andy Young got things going with his seventh homer in 22 Double-A games. Later, an Andrew Knizner double off the wall in center brought John Nogowski in from second for a 2-0 lead.
Springfield pushed its lead to 3-0 in the sixth when Nogowski knocked his 10th dinger of the season into the Hooks bullpen in left.
TSUNAMI RETURNS
Carlos Martinez made a scheduled rehab appearance out of the bullpen. Martinez threw 28 pitches over two full innings, pitching the eighth and ninth.
Martinez struck out one and allowed a solo homer to Stephen Wrenn that secured the 5-3 final.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS INVASION
Martinez is expected to make another relief appearance this Sunday in Springfield’s 4:10pm game against the Hooks.
St. Louis tonight announced that RHP Adam Wainwright will make a rehab start for Springfield on Sunday.
Additionally, INF Yairo Munoz will make rehab appearances in Springfield on Saturday and Sunday. The Cardinals face the Hooks at 6:10pm on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Springfield and Corpus Christi meet again Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:10pm and gates set to open at 5:10pm.
Yairo Munoz is expected to make the first of two rehab appearances Saturday for Springfield.
Saturday is our Maria’s Mexican Restaurant Bob Gibson Career Highlights Bobblehead Giveaway for 2,000 fans.
