Cardinals strike early and often in 11-5 rout

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - 1B Luis Bandes and the Cardinals offense exploded for runs early and often on Saturday night, as Johnson City bludgeoned the Bristol Pirates, 11-5, in front of 2,528 fans at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.
With the victory, the Redbirds have captured their season-opening series and move to 2-1 on the young season. Bristol's loss drops them to 1-2 through three games.
Ahead in the contest 4-2, the Cardinals blew the game wide open thanks to a five-run bottom of the fifth. SS Starlin Balbuena (1-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB) led off the inning with a line drive that deflected into right field. The 19-year-old never stopped stride and ended up at second with a double. 3B Brady Whalen (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SO) followed with a line-drive single into left-center, scoring Balbuena, and extending the lead to 5-2.
C Julio Rodriguez (1-5, 2 R, RBI) followed by hitting a double-play grounder to third, but the ball was dropped at second. Both runners were safe and Johnson City made the Buccos pay. Bandes (3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SO) smoked a hit into right that was misplayed and rolled to the wall. Whalen crossed the plate on the hit, while Rodriguez raced home on the error to stretch the Birds' lead to 7-2.
Two pitches later, DH Jonathan Rivera (2-4, R, 2B, RBI) launched a towering line drive off the wall in right, scoring Bandes, to make it an 8-2 Cardinals lead. CF Chase Pinder (1-4, RBI, SO) continued the attack two batters later, coming through with his first pro hit and RBI - a single to right - extending Johnson City's lead to seven.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead by scratching across a run in the second inning. With no one on and two outs, Bandes started the rally with a double to left and Rivera followed with an infield single. On a 2-2 pitch, 2B Wood Myers (1-3, RBI, BB) slapped a single up the middle and beat the throw to first for an infield knock. Bandes came across to give the Redbirds a 1-0 edge.
After Bristol tied it in the top of the third, the Cards exploded for three more runs in the bottom of the frame, again with two outs. Balbuena reached on a walk and was able to score on a double down the left-field line by Whalen, putting Johnson City back in front, 2-1.
Rodriguez and Bandes followed with a RBI single and double, respectively, to push the Cardinals advantage to three at 4-1.
Ahead 9-2, Bristol added three unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth, but the Redbirds were able to tack on two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a sacrifice fly by Balbuena and a run-scoring wild pitch.
Cardinals RHP Edwar Ramirez (5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) surrendered seven hits over five innings, but yielded just two runs (one earned) and struck out five to earn the win in his Appalachian League and United States debut. LHP Braeden Ogle (4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) struggled for the Bucs, issuing four runs on six hits over four frames and was saddled with his first loss of the year.
Bandes (3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SO) was the ring-leader of the Cardinals' offense, collecting a team-high three hits and driving in a pair. Rivera (2-4, R, 2B, RBI) accrued his second straight multi-hit game, while Whalen (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SO) tossed in a pair of knocks, as well.
Johnson City's pitching staff recorded plenty of strikeouts on Saturday night, as six different pitchers combined to punch out 14 Pirates' batters.
The Cardinals hit the road for the first time this season, as they travel to Kingsport to take on the Mets. RHP Alvaro Seijas (0-0, -.-- ERA) - St. Louis' No. 20 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com - is projected to take the mound for Johnson City, while RHP Christian James  (0-0, -.--) is expected to toe the slab for the K-Mets.
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 3:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 4:00 p.m. ET start from Hunter Wright Stadium. Sunday afternoon's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
The Redbirds will return home to open up a six-game homestand against the Greeneville Astros, rookie league affiliate of the Houston Astros, on Wednesday, June 28. It will be the club's Salute to Scrubs Night, featuring special food and ticket discounts for hospital and medical staff.
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.