The Springfield Cardinals have their backs against the wall. One more loss and their chances of a Texas League North first half championship are gone. They avoided the loss with a shutout performance by pitchers Chris Lambert, Cory Doyne, and Mark Worrell III beating first place Tulsa 2-0.
Lambert started things off holding a red hot Drillers offense to just two hits in seven innings. Doyne entered in relief to pitch a scoreless eighth. Worrell did the same in the ninth, striking out the side, to earn his 18th save of the year. He’s now in a tie for the saves lead with Tulsa’s Manuel Corpas.
The Drillers only managed two hits the whole night. A single by Seth Smith in the first and another single by Joe Koshansky in the fourth was all they could muster up. Only one Driller reached third base all night.
Tulsa’s magic number is one, but the Cardinals have as good a chance as any to keep the Drillers from taking the first half title. Springfield needs to win the final two games of the series if they want to claim the crown. They’re 9-3 against Tulsa this year.
Springfield managed a mini-rally in the third to score its two runs. Juan Richardson walked and scored on a Rico Washington double. Tulsa starter, Steven Register, was called for a balk allowing Washington to move to third. Register the hit Terry Evans with a pitch. Nick Stavinoha singled up the middle to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
