August weather in southwest Missouri is usually steamy, but Mother Nature was really showing off last week and showing the “Show Me State” just how hot it can get with temperatures well above 90 degrees every day. Regardless of the temperature, the Double A Springfield Cardinals walked away from the week with the Arkansas Naturals with an even 3-3 record for the week. Attendance numbers were down slightly, but the fans who stuck out the temperatures were able to see a rehab inning by St. Louis Cardinals Ryan Helsley and the addition of Thomas Saggese from the Texas Rangers, which seemed to be a positive addition considering his performance in this home series. Here are a few highlights from the Cardinals’ series with the Arkansas Naturals:
- The Cardinals started the week with a six run inning in the third leading to an 8-2 win. Saggese debuted and Pedro Pages went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs. Mike Antico and Jacob Buchberger both racked up home runs while Victor Scott stole his 18th base.
- Wednesday night’s game consisted of a come-from-behind victory with a score of 4-3. Arquimedes Gamboa blasted a ground rule double allowing Jose Alvarez to score in the bottom of the ninth inning. Other highlights of the game included Thomas Saggese hitting his first home run as a Cardinal and Roy Garcia pitching his first Double A win.
- Thursday night continued the Cardinals domination as Irving Lopez tied the game in the 5th inning and scored the game winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth. Saggese started the ninth inning rally with a leadoff double, later scoring the winning run. Victor Scott II added two steals during the game.
- The tides seem to have turned on Friday night with the Cardinals coming out on the losing end of a slugfest. Although the Cardinals forged ahead in the bottom of the 8th, the Naturals countered with six runs in the top of the ninth. Roy Garcia received his first loss but there were plenty of highlights including Victor Scott extending his hitting streak to 11 games, solo home runs by Mike Antico and Arquimedes Gamboa, and a double and homer by LJ Jones.
- Saturday night was another disappointing night for the Cardinals as they were shutout with only three hits. One highlight of the game, however, was Victor Scott extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
- Sunday proved to be another disappointing night. Chandler Redmond and Noah Medlinger had base hits in the ninth but they were not quite enough to propel the Cardinals over the Naturals. Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinal pitcher, delivered one inning allowing only one hit and one strikeout as he rehabbed with the team.
- The Springfield Cardinals are currently finishing their home stand with the San Antonio Missions before heading back out on the road. They are currently .5 game behind the Naturals in the Texas League North standings.
The Springfield Cardinals are currently finishing their home stand with the San Antonio Missions before heading back out on the road. Rain may be a factor in the Wednesday game, but Ryan Helsley is scheduled to do another rehab appearance along with Jake Wooford. After recovering in Tuesday night”s contest to beat the Missions, hopefully the Cardinals can keep the momentum going!
Patty Murray is a retired educator and life long baseball fan. She has lived around the southwest Missouri area her entire life where she enjoyed a 39 year career as a school counselor and teacher. Patty has a true love of baseball and started out as a Cincinnati Reds fan during the days of the Big Red Machine. She later became a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan and enjoyed watching and talking baseball with her dad, who instilled in her the love of the game.
Patty lives in Springfield, MO where she has the benefit of experiencing baseball at the AA level with the Springfield Cardinals and is currently a season pass holder. Besides going to baseball games, she is trying to figure out how to “be retired” and enjoys time with her three children and six grandchildren.
