Late Rally Not Enough As Sod Poodles Split Series

Amarillo, Texas - The Amarillo Sod Poodles dropped their Sunday evening contest with the Springfield Cardinals to end a six-game homestand. The St. Louis Cardinals Double-A affiliate jumped out to a seven-run lead after the fourth inning and had it to a 10-run lead after the sixth. The Soddies battled back in the later innings, drawing within four before ultimately dropping the finale 15-11.

For the fourth time in this series, the Springfield Cardinals were able to score a run in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back hits off Bryce Jarvis put runners on the corners. Springfield's Mike Antico hustled home when Sod Poodles' first baseman Leandro Cedeño took a ground ball himself for the second out of the inning.

Amarillo answered the Cardinals' run with three of their own in the bottom of the first.

Three straight singles started the home team's at-bats. A passed ball allowed Jorge Barrosa to score and the other two base runners to advance a base. A Roby Enriquez ground out plated the second Sod Poodles run ahead of a RBI sac fly by Blaze Alexander to make it 3-1.

Springfield tacked on runs in each of the next three innings, building a 10-3 lead after the top of the fourth.

Enriquez added his sixth RBI of the series and second RBI single of the night in the bottom of the fifth inning.

A five-run top of the sixth highlighted by the fourth and fifth Springfield home runs aided in the big inning and helped extend the Cardinals' lead to 15-4. Andy Yerzy picked up his third hit - and home run - of the series with a solo shot in the sixth to left-center field.

The third pitcher used by Amarillo was right-hander Justin Lewis. In relief of Bryce Jarvis and Austin Pope, Lewis struck out the second batter he faced. A leadoff walk started his night but the right-hander battled back to retire the next three in order.

Cedeño tallied his fourth hit of the night and Enriquez pitched in with his second RBI single and third RBI of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Lewis pitched his second scoreless inning, this time in a 1-2-3 fashion. A Juan Centeno double started the home half of the eighth inning and the Soddies designated hitter later scored thanks to English's second hit of the ballgame.

Josh Green pitched a shutout top of the ninth inning for Amarillo. The right-hander worked around a two-out double to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard for the third straight inning.

Down to the final at-bats of the night, Blaze Alexander singled up the middle with one out to start a rally in the bottom of the ninth. A wild pitch, walk, and Centeno's second double of the night scored Alexander from second base. The second wild pitch of the inning scored another before consecutive Springfield errors scored a run and helped keep the inning alive. With two on, Amarillo was unable to get any closer to the lead, as Barrosa and English were retired to end the comeback bid.

Following a series split, Amarillo will have an off day and then hit the road to Midland for the start of a 12-game road trip that will end in Corpus Christi.

Notes:

EnSTREAKez: After his career-long hitting streak of 20 games came to an end on Wednesday, OF Roby Enriquez entered Sunday's game with a new streak of two games after not playing on Thursday. Although his 20-game streak came to an end, Enriquez came into tonight's game still riding a 27-game on-base streak. The Puerto Rico native picked up two base knocks and picked up 3 RBI as well to extend his hitting streak to three games with an on-base streak of 28.

Four For Leandro: Leandro Cedeño tied his career-high with a four-hit night. His last four-hit game came last season while with Peoria. All three of his four-hit nights before tonight came on the road. Cedeño is now hitting .297 with 107 hits on the year and he ranks 7th in the Texas League.

Class Is In Session: Tristin English 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. It was his 9th multi-hit game since being promoted from High-A Hillsboro back on June 28. In 37 games in Double-A, the former Georgia Tech product is hitting .268 with six doubles, three homers, and now 15 RBI.

J-Lew & The Sod Poodle Crew: Right-hander Justin Lewis orchestrated two scoreless relief innings on Sunday. It was his ninth scoreless appearance out of the bullpen for Amarillo in 18 games. He had seven scoreless during his first stint in Amarillo to start 2022 before being promoted to Triple-A Reno on May 25th. Josh Green, tinkering with a new delivery pitched a scoreless ninth with one hit allowed. The two relievers worked in tandem to hold the Cardinals scoreless over the final three innings as the Sod Poodles mounted their unsuccessful comeback.

Juan Two: Juan Centeno ended the game 2-for-5 with two doubles, a RBI, and a pair of runs scored. They were his 15th and 16th doubles of the year. Centeno is hitting .309 with 29 extra-base hits including his career-high 12 home runs in 61 games played for the Sod Poodles.

Yerz Bomb: C/1B Andy Yerzy added another home run in the series, his third in four games played against the Cardinals Double-A club. His oppo tater in the 6th inning made it three straight games with a home run for the Ontario, Canada native. He joins Leandro Cedeño, Drew Stankiewicz, and Dominic Canzone as the only Sod Poodles to go yard in three straight games in 2022. For the year, Yerzy is hitting .218 with now 11 home runs to go along with his 13 doubles and a triple. He has 35 RBI in 74 games for the Soddies.