Cardinals erase 5-run deficit, win 7-6 in front of sellout crowd

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- John Nogowski got the Cardinals walkin' around the Christmas tree Saturday with a game-winning bases-loaded walk, erasing a five-run deficit on the second day of Cardinals Christmas in July.

Yes, the Hammons Field noise grew three sizes today. It started out low, but as a 6-1 deficit disappeared, it started to grow. Not even the Grinchy Naturals could stop Christmas from coming to the 6,769 fans that made up yet another sellout crowd in a 7-6 Springfield final.

BUT HOW?

Andy Young's two home runs helped. Young sent a pair of dingers higher than Santa's sleigh, with the first pulling the Cardinals within 6-2 in the fifth and his second tying the game 6-6 in the eighth.

Young now has five home runs in seven games since being assigned to Springfield from High-A Palm Beach and is the gift that keeps on giving. His fifth-inning homer sparked a three-run inning for a Cardinals team that was shut out on Friday.

Later in the fifth, Tommy Edman scored easily on a Jeremy Martinez sacrifice fly that made it 6-3. Chris Chinea singled Johan Mieses home three batters later to bring the Cardinals within 6-4.

Young's game-tying shot was only possible because of Evan Mendoza's 415-foot homer to center to batters earlier in the eighth. Still in the eighth, the Cardinals loaded the bases on Naturals reliever Bryan Brickhouse before John Nogowski drew his bases-loaded two-out walk.

Cardinals reliever Will Latcham struck out two Naturals and emphatically locked up his third save of the season with a fist pump and embrace with catcher Jeremy Martinez.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals and Naturals meet Sunday on the third day of Cardinals Christmas in July weekend.

Sunday's Christmas in July giveaway is the Price Cutter & Bar-S Foods Christmas Ornament giveaway for 2,000 fans, featuring Louie Claus and Rein-Dog.

Gates open 15 minutes early on Sunday at 4:55pm for Christian Family Day, presented by Thrivent Financial.

Sunday is also a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases, where kids can receive free ice cream before the game and can run the bases after.