Jays top Cardinals to take series finale, 6-1

BLUEFIELD, Va. - Looking to avoid their first three-game sweep in over a year, the Blue Jays racked up 16 hits, as Bluefield topped the Johnson City Cardinals, 6-1, in the series finale at Bowen Field on Saturday night.
The defeat snapped the Redbirds three-game winning streak and dropped their overall mark to 30-25. Bluefield's win improved their record to 37-18.
Despite the loss, Greeneville's defeat at the hands of Pulaski allows the Cards to maintain a one-game edge over the Astros for the final playoff spot in the west.
Unlike the first two games of the series, Bluefield struck first on Saturday night. SS Kevin Smith (3-5, R, 2B, RBI, SO) and C Yorman Rodriguez (2-5, RBI, SO) smacked back-to-back singles before 3B Brandon Grudzielanek 's (1-3, RBI) two-out knock gave the Jays a 1-0 lead.
Johnson City would tie it up and score their only run of the contest in the third. 2B J.D. Murders (1-3, R) singled, CF Carlos Talavera (1-3, BB, SO) and SS Imeldo Diaz (1-4) added a single to load the bases with nobody out. On the first pitch, C Julio Rodriguez (2-4, RBI, SO) smashed a base-hit to center - scoring Murders - and tying the game at one. However - on that play - Talavera was thrown out trying to score from second and Rodriguez was tossed out going to second on the throw home, effectively ending the rally.
The Blue Jays grabbed the lead for good in the bottom half of the frame. CF Chavez Young (2-5, R, SO) reached on a bunt single and Smith followed with a double down the left-field line. Yorman Rodriguez then put Bluefield ahead - 2-1 - with a run-scoring single to left.
In the fourth, the Jays broke the game open. DH Ryan Gold (2-4, R, 2B, RBI, SO) banged a double to right to leadoff the inning and scored on a triple by RF Freddy Rodriguez (1-4, R, 3B, RBI), making it a 3-1 contest. Two pitches later, 2B Jesus Navarro (2-4, R, 3B, RBI) ripped a RBI triple of his own, extending the advantage to 4-1. Smith would push across another tally in the frame on a run-scoring single to left, giving Bluefield a 5-1 cushion.
Gold came through to drive in the game's final tally in the seventh. Following a double by 1B Ryan Noda (2-4, R, 2 2B, 2 SO), Gold poked a single to left to drive in the runner and cap off the night with a 6-1 lead.
LHP Randy Pondler (6.0 IP, 7 H, R, ER, BB, 3 SO) tied a season-high with seven hits allowed but yielded just one run in six innings to earn his third win of the season for the Jays. His counterpart - Johnson City's RHP Franyel Casadilla (5.1 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 SO) was taxed for a season-worst 13 hits, as he suffered his fifth defeat.
For Bluefield, RHP Graham Spraker (3.0 IP, H, 3 SO) tossed three innings of shutout relief to garner his seventh save of the season.
Julio Rodriguez (2-4, RBI, SO) recorded the only multi-hit game for Johnson City in defeat. The 20-year-old extended his hitting streak to a team-season-high 11 straight with a pair of singles.
Johnson City continues their six-game road trip on Sunday, as they head to Elizabethton to take on the Twins, the rookie league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. RHP Edwar Ramirez (2-6, 7.11 ERA) is slated to take the hill for Johnson City in the opener. Elizabethton is projected to counter with RHP Brusdar Graterol (1-1, 6.17 ERA), Minnesota's No. 12 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 5:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 6:00 p.m. ET start at Joe O'Brien Field. Sunday evening's contest can be heard on JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
Following the six-game road trip, the Redbirds will return home to open up a three-game series against the Greeneville Astros, the rookie affiliate of the Houston Astros, on Wednesday, August 23. It will be Hot Dog Heaven Night as all hot dogs that evening will be sold for just 50 cents.
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.