Cardinals batter Braves, sweep doubleheader

DANVILLE, Va. - LF Chase Pinder's single was the difference, as the Cardinals rallied to take game one, 3-2. In the nightcap, Johnson City used an eight-run fourth inning to defeat the Danville Braves and sweep the doubleheader, 10-6, on Saturday night at Legion Field.
With the pair of victories, the Redbirds improve their 2017 record to 18-19. Danville drops to 18-19 on the campaign with the doubleheader loss.
Down 2-1 in the seventh inning of game one, Johnson City rallied to win. RF Carlos Talavera (1-2, R, RBI, BB, SO) started the rally with a one-out bunt single and moved to third on a stolen base and a throwing error. SS Delvin Perez (0-4, R, RBI, SO) followed by smacking a grounder to third. The throw home was late, as Talavera scored to tie the game at two.
A sacrifice bunt moved Perez to second and Pinder (1-4, RBI) made sure it counted. The Poquoson, Va. native slapped a base-hit into right field, as the 18-year-old scored from second to give Johnson City the lead, 3-2.
LHP Fabian Blanco (1.0 IP) entered in the seventh and retired the side in order to seal the game one victory and his fourth save of the season.
The Cardinals had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second on a bases-loaded walk to Talavera. Danville responded to take the lead on a solo home run by RF Justin Smith (1-2, R, HR, RBI, BB, SO) in the fourth and a RBI single to right by SS Riley Delgado (1-4, RBI) in the fifth. 
Cardinals RHP Alvaro Seijas (6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) was solid for Johnson City allowing two runs in six innings to earn his third victory of the year. 
RHP Walter Borkovich (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER) surrendered both runs in the seventh, suffering a blown save and his first loss of the season. Danville's starter - RHP Huascar Ynoa (4.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) - did not receive a decision in his Atlanta organizational debut.
In the nightcap, it was an eight-run second that proved to be the difference for the Redbirds.
After falling behind 4-1, the Cardinals started their onslaught quietly with a walk by DH Stanley Espinal (0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SO). A fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed RF Jonathan Rivera (0-4, R) to reach and Espinal to advance to third. LF Walker Robbins (1-4, R, 2B, RBI, 3 SO) continued the attack by slashing a RBI double down the left-field line, pulling the Redbirds within 4-2.
With 2B J.D. Murders (1-4, R, RBI, SO) at the plate, Johnson City evened the score. With men at second and third, the 19-year-old hit an infield single to first. However, the throw to the bag was wild - allowing Robbins to score from second - and the Cardinals had tied the game to four.
After a walk to SS Imeldo Diaz (1-3, R, BB, SO), Pinder put the Birds ahead for good. The 21-year-old cracked a two-run double off the wall in left-center, giving Johnson City a 6-4 lead. Following a ground out, C Alexis Wilson (3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, SO) whipped a RBI double down the left field-side, extending the advantage to 7-4.
Two batters later, 3B Brady Whalen (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) capped off the eight-run frame. The 19-year-old ripped another two-base-hit to left - bringing home a pair - giving the Cardinals a five-run lead, 9-4.
In the sixth, the Birds added to their total, as Wilson hammered a solo home run to left. The blast - his second of the year - put Johnson City in front, 10-4.
The Cardinals scored in the first on a throwing error, taking a 1-0 lead. Danville added four in the bottom of the third on a RBI double by CF Ray Michel (2-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB), a pair of run-scoring singles by 2B Derian Cruz (1-4, R, RBI, SO) and 1B Hagen Owenby (1-3, RBI, SO), as well as an error. The D-Braves scratched across two more in the seventh on a wild pitch and a single by Michel.
RHP Zach Prendergast (5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) was impressive in his affiliated debut, striking out seven in five innings to earn his first victory with Johnson City.
Danville's LHP Dilmer Mejia (3.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) struck out a season-high seven, but was battered for eight runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings and was saddled with his third defeat of the campaign.
CF Wadye Ynfante (2-4, R, SO) and DH Julio Rodriguez (2-3) each collected multi-hit games for the Redbirds in the lid-lifter. Wilson (3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, SO) ignited the Johnson City offense in the nightcap, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Whalen (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) also added a pair of hits in the game two victory.
The Cardinals continue their six-game road trip on Sunday, as they head to Pulaski to take on the Yankees, the rookie affiliate of the New York Yankees, in a three-game series. Johnson City is expected to send RHP Franyel Casadilla (0-3, 8.61 ERA) in game one, while the Yanks have not yet named their starting pitcher.
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET start at Calfee Park. Sunday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
Johnson City will return home on Thursday, August 3, as they kick off a six-game homestand with three contests against the Princeton Rays, the rookie affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. It will be a Coors Light Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark with special one, two and three dollar specials on all draft beer. That evening's affair will also be Fanatics 101 Night at the stadium.
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