The Wichita Wranglers exploded out of the gates and never looked back, beating the Springfield Cardinals 11-4.

Mitch Maier led the way offensively for Wichita homering and driving in five runs. His two-run homer capped a three-run first inning. After Springfield tied the game 4-4 in the fifth, Maier struck again with a two-run single that scored Angel Sanchez and Alex Gordon. The Wranglers scored three more runs in the inning. Maier wasn’t done yet. In a four-run sixth, Maier showed his patience drawing a bases loaded walk.

It wasn’t all Maier for the Wranglers. He had plenty of help. Alex Gordon pitched going 2-for-3 with two doubles and scored four times. Leadoff hitter Sanchez went 3-for-5 and scored twice.

Junior Herndon started for the Wranglers going 4 2/3 innings allowing four runs on nine hits. But it was reliever Thad Markray who earned the win pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings. The only base runner allowed by Markray was a walk to Rico Washington.

2006 all star starter Reid Gorecki hit a two-run homer in the losing effort. After sitting in first place in the Texas League North most of the year, the Cardinals have lost five of their last six and dropped into second place, two games behind leader Tulsa.

Springfield starter Chris Lambert lost the game for the Cardinals. He surrendered seven runs – six earned – on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.