Cardinals bats bust out to edge Bristol, 8-6

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Johnson City erupted for eight runs and 12 hits, as the Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 8-6 triumph over the Bristol Pirates in front of 2,136 fans at TVA Credit Union Ballpark on Friday night.
With the victory, Johnson City improves their season mark to 9-13. Win the loss, Bristol drops to 7-15 on the campaign.
The Redbirds wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, striking for a pair in the bottom of the first. CF Wadye Ynfante (2-4, R) led off with a single to right and scooted around to third on a stolen base and a passed ball. DH Julio Rodriguez (3-5, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI) brought him in with a run-scoring ground out to third, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
1B Luis Bandes (2-5, 2 R, RBI) re-ignited the rally with an infield single to third. C Alexis Wilson (1-4, 2B, RBI, SO) drove in the run, as he smacked a shot down the right-field line. Bandes scored on the catcher's double, making it a 2-0 ballgame.
Johnson City tacked on two more in the third. SS Wood Myers (0-4, R, BB, SO) walked to start the inning and Rodriguez proceeded to launch a shot to deep left-center. The ball was misplayed and banged off the wall for a RBI triple, extending the lead to 3-0 Johnson City. Bandes made it 4-0, as he cranked a single to center to score Rodriguez.
Ahead 4-1, the middle of the lineup produced a pair of runs in the fifth. With men at second and third and one out, 3B Brady Whalen  (1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, SO) grounded out to first - scoring Rodriguez from third - to extend the Cardinals' lead to 5-1. 2B J.D. Murders (2-4, R, RBI) followed it up with a RBI single to center, stretching the advantage to 6-1.
Bristol would trim the lead to two with a three-run sixth. 1B Johan De Jesus (2-4, R, 3B, 2 RBI) laced a RBI triple, while 3B Luis Perez (1-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SO) and C Jason Delay (2-4, 2 RBI) picked up run-scoring singles to cut the Pirates' deficit to 6-4.
Johnson City answered back with a duo of runs in the seventh. Whalen demolished the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a solo home run - his first of the year - and Murders - who reached on a single - came across on a wild pitch, giving the Cards an 8-4 lead.
CF Yondry Contreras (1-4, R, 2B, RBI, SO) ripped a run-scoring double and Delay lined another RBI single for the Pirates to make it a 8-6 game in the eighth, but that was as close as the Bucs would get.
LHP Jacob Patterson (1.1 IP, H, 4 SO) entered with two outs in the frame and struck out four to finish off the Redbirds' win and his league-leading fourth save of the season.
Cardinals' starter RHP Johan Oviedo (4.1 IP, H, R, ER, 6 BB, 5 SO) allowed just one hit, but did not factor into the decision on Friday. RHP Jake Walsh (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO) came on in relief and garnered his second victory of the year.
RHP Travis MacGregor (3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, SO) struggled for the visiting Pirates, allowing four runs in three innings, suffering his second defeat of the campaign.
Rodriguez (3-5, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI) led the charge for the Johnson City offense, picking up a game-high three hits in the win. Ynfante (2-4, R), Bandes (2-5, 2 R, RBI) and Murders (2-4, R, RBI) all earned multi-hit performances in the victory, as well.
The Cardinals head to Kingsport on Saturday, as they open up a three-game series against the Mets, the rookie affiliate of the New York Mets. RHP Franyel Casadilla (0-2, 6.17 ERA) is expected to toe the slab for Johnson City, while Kingsport is slated to send RHP Jose Geraldo (2-1, 4.74 ERA) to the hill.
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:15 p.m. ET, leading up to the 6:30 p.m. ET start at Hunter Wright Stadium. Saturday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
Following the six-game road trip, the Redbirds will return home for a six-set homestand, starting with a three-contest series agains the Danville Braves, the rookie affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, starting on Friday, July 21. It will be Salute to Heroes Night at the ballpark, as Johnson City will honor veterans past and present with select discounts inside the stadium. Following that night's game, there will be a spectacular Fireworks Show presented by Xtreme Painting.
Single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at JCCardinals.com or by calling the Cardinals' Ticket Office at (423) 461-4866.
ABOUT THE JOHNSON CITY CARDINALS
The Johnson City Cardinals are the Rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Members of the ten-team Appalachian League, Cardinals baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for 80 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com.