SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Cardinals battled back from a three-run deficit Friday night but were unable to pull ahead after pulling even in the seventh.
Jeremy Martinez hit his fifth home run of the season, Evan Mendoza and Jose Martinez each drove in a run and Springfield fell 5-3 to Arkansas in the final matchup between the two teams this season.
Friday night kicked off at Hammons Field with 5,776 in attendance and Anthony Shew on the mound. Shew went five full innings but exited with the Cardinals staring at a 3-0 hole after allowing three runs on six hits and three walks.
Shew added six strikeouts, but was pegged for a run in the third when Chuck Taylor singled home a run on an 0-2 count, and then two more runs on a two-run shot by Dario Pizzano in the fifth.
The Cardinals bats responded in the bottom half of the fifth. Evan Mendoza smacked a gapper to right that allowed John Nogowski to score all the way from first on a hit-and-run. Later, Jose Martinez made it a 3-2 game when his ground ball brought Mendoza in.
Jeremy Martinez tied things 3-3 with an arching homer to left in the seventh.
The tie didn’t last long. With Landon Beck on in relief, the Travelers put up two in the eighth. Both runs scored off a Donnie Walton double.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals open their final series of the 2018 season on Saturday against the Drillers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10pm with gates set to open at 5:10pm.
Saturday is our Budweiser St. Louis Cardinals 1982 World Championship Beer Stein Giveaway for 2,000 fans and a Fans-On-Field Fireworks & Kids Dance Party.
Springfield will be wearing its Teal 90s ‘Jazz’ Specialty Jerseys on the field that have gone viral on social media. The jerseys will be auctioned off during the game, benefiting GYNCA.
