Cardinals fall to Twins in wild, 10-inning affair, 13-12

Lopez, Myers, Bandes combine for 10 hits, 9 RBI in loss

1B Luis Bandes collected three hits - including a towering three-run homer - and drove in a career-high five runs, as the Johnson City Cardinals fell to the Elizabethton Twins in 10 innings on Monday, 13-12. (Bret Jacomet)

By Justin Rocke

July 10, 2017

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - SS Irving Lopez , 2B Wood Myers , and 1B Luis Bandes  combined to rack up 10 hits and drive in nine runs, but it was not enough, as the Elizabethton Twins outlasted the Johnson City Cardinals, 13-12, in 10 innings on Monday night at Joe O'Brien Field.With the loss, the Redbirds

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - SS Irving Lopez , 2B Wood Myers , and 1B Luis Bandes combined to rack up 10 hits and drive in nine runs, but it was not enough, as the Elizabethton Twins outlasted the Johnson City Cardinals, 13-12, in 10 innings on Monday night at Joe O'Brien Field.
With the loss, the Redbirds dropped to 8-11 on the year. Elizabethton takes control of first place in the Appalachian League Western Division with the win, as they improve to 13-6.
Tied at 12 in the tenth, the Twins got a leadoff walk to CF Matt Albanese (2-5, R, RBI, BB, 2 SO) to set the stage for 1B J.J. Robinson (2-3, R, HR, 5 RBI, BB, SO). The left-handed swinger smacked a ball off the wall in right-center field to scored Albanese from first to give Elizabethton their second walk-off win in the series, 13-12.
Down a run in the ninth, Johnson City was able to even the tide. Myers (4-6, 2 R, RBI) got aboard with a single to right and Bandes (3-6, R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) proceeded to punish a ball down the left-field line. Myers scored on the two-bagger to even the score at 12.
The Cardinals initially jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Lopez (3-5, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) drove in a pair with a single in the second and the duo of Myers and Bandes tallied run-scoring singles to stretch the advantage to 4-0 after two. In the third, CF Carlos Talavera (1-2, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB) brought home a run with a sacrifice fly and Lopez stroked another RBI knock to make it a 6-0 affair.
Elizabethton trimmed the lead to one with a five-run third. 3B Andrew Bechtold (1-5, R, HR, RBI, 2 SO) led off the frame with a homer over the left-center field fence to cut it to 6-1. SS Wander Javier (2-5, 2 R, 3B, RBI, BB, SO) continued the onslaught with a run-scoring triple, while RF Shane Carrier (3-6, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, SO) drove in a tally with a single. Robinson and DH Colton Waltner (0-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 SO) made it 6-5 on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and a RBI fielder's choice, respectively.
Johnson City ballooned the lead back to six with a run in the sixth and four in the seventh. 3B Brady Whalen (1-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB) put the Cardinals up, 7-5, with a RBI double in the sixth. In the seventh, Talavera ripped a RBI single and Bandes clubbed a long, towering three-run homer to put the Redbirds in front, 11-5.
Elizabethon finally tied it and took the lead with four in the seventh and three in the eighth. Robinson slugged a three-run jack and C Robert Molina (1-5, 3B, RBI, 2 SO) stroked a RBI triple to cut the lead to 11-9 after seven. LF Brent Rooker (3-3, 3 R, RBI, 3 BB), Carrier and Albanese all ripped consecutive run-scoring single to put the Twins ahead for the first time, 12-11.
RHP Jose Martinez (3.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 SO) surrendered the lead in the ninth but hung on to earn his second win of the year for the E-Twins. RHP Juan Alvarez (0.1 IP, H, R, ER, BB) yielded the go-ahead run in the 10th, suffering his first loss of the year.
Neither starter made it out of the third inning on Monday. LHP Jacob Schlesener (2.0+ IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) struck out three in two-plus innings for Johnson City, while RHP Huascar Ynoa (2.0+ IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO) walked five and surrendered six runs (five earned) for Elizabethton.
Myers (4-6, 2 R, RBI) tied a career-best with four hits, while Lopez (3-5, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) drove in a season-high three runs. Bandes (4-6, 2 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) added five RBI and his first home run of the season in defeat.

After Tuesday's off day, the Cardinals will return home, as they kick off a three-game homestand against the Bristol Pirates, the rookie affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on Wednesday night. Johnson City is expected to send RHP Edwar Ramirez (1-2, 6.32 ERA) to the mound for the lid-lifter. Bristol has yet to name 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 TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Wednesday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps.
That evening's contest will be the Cardinals' All-You-Can-Eat Night, as fans can purchase a special wristband and enjoy all-you-can-eat on select food items.
Season and 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.