Springfield Cardinals Beat Frisco 5-0 In Championship Series Game One
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Roughriders, Cardinals and First Responders Line Up Before Game 1
The Springfield Cardinals used the long ball and seven innings of shutout pitching by Carlos Martinez to beat the Frisco Roughriders 5-0 Tuesday night at Hammons Field in the first game of the Texas League Championship Series.
The Cardinals have a 1-0 lead in the best of five series, which continues with game two Wednesday night in Springfield, and games three, four and five (if needed) beginning Friday at Frisco.
Springfield jumped on RoughRiders starter Cody Buckel (5-6) early. In the bottom of the 2nd, shortstop Greg Garcia hit a drive to right field that sent Jared Hoying to the wall. He leaped, and for a moment, appeared to have the catch, but there was no ball in the glove. The home run gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, and they never looked back.
Jamie Romak blasted a home run over the left field wall in the 7th, then Mike O'Neill added a three run shot way over the board in right later in the inning to make it 5-0.
Relievers Eric Fornataro and Michael Blazek took care of the rest, shutting down the RoughRiders over the final two innings.
A crowd of 2,935 was on its feet cheering and clapping in unison when Blazek got Ryan Strausborger to strike out for the final out of the game. The fans then got a special Tuesday night fireworks show.
Before the game, first responders from around the area gathered around the infield for a special recognition on the 11 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. A video tribute and moment of silence also marked the pregame observance.
There's one more game left in 2012 at Hammons Field. Seth Maness (11-3, 3.27 ERA) is scheduled to get the start for the Cardinals in game two. He'll be opposed by Frisco's Nick Tepesch (6-3, 4.28 ERA). First pitch Wednesday night is scheduled for 7:08 p.m.
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