Thomas' 8th-inning homer secures Cardinals sweep, ties Birds for 1st

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- If you listen closely, you can still hear the Lane Train making its midnight run.

With not an out in the eighth and just an inning after the Cardinals rallied from a two-run hole to tie, the baseball left Franco Terrero's hand and boarded Lane Thomas' bat, which deposited it deep into the night and appropriately towards the rail yard over the hill in center.

The railshot secured a series sweep for the Cardinals and put them in a three-way tie for first in the Texas League North in what ended as a 4-3 final over the Naturals in front of 3,917 fans at Hammons Field.

BUT FIRST, THE RALLY

After totaling just seven hits in the previous 16 innings, a Cardinals lineup that had consistently found success against Texas League pitching rediscovered its form.

Victor Roache started the rally with a one-out single to right. One batter later, Edmundo Sosa followed suit and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Next, Chris Chinea scored Roache on a single of his own.

The Cardinals tied it two batters later when Tommy Edman hit one deep enough to bring Sosa home. And so the curtain was drawn for Thomas' heroics in the eighth.

Before that point, Springfield had produced little in the way of a threat since the first, when John Nogowski drove in his 19th run of the season with a two-out single that scored Thomas and put the Cardinals up 1-0.

That lead held until the fifth.
Conner Greene came into Thursday with the sixth-best ERA among Texas League starters and retired the first eight Naturals before Luis Villegas singled with two outs in the third.

After the Naturals loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, Greene came a step away from inducing an inning-ending double play. Instead, Nicky Lopez just beat the throw to first, allowing Corey Toups to score and tie the game.

The Naturals took the lead 2-1 one batter later on a two-strike wild pitch by Greene that allowed Alfredo Escalera to come home.

A two-out double over Thomas' head in center extended the Naturals lead to 3-1 in the sixth and signaled an end to Greene's night.

Greene allowed three runs on four hits and three walks over 5.2 innings, striking out four on 99 pitches.

SO FRESH SO CLEAN

Ronnie Williams (1-0) made his Double-A debut in the sixth inning in relief of Greene. He inherited a runner on second but got Anderson Miller on a groundout to second, ending the threat.

Williams, called up this week from High-A Palm Beach, was credited with the win after 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out one and allowing just a single hit.

Hector Mendoza came in to close in the ninth, giving up a one-out triple but responding with a pop out and a strikeout for his second save of the season.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Miller was called for a batter's box violation with two outs in the sixth, resulting in an automatic strike … Mendoza extended his scoreless innings streak to seven to open the season … Nogowski's single extended his hit streak to seven games … Knizner's hit streak ended at seven games with an 0-for-4 night … The Cardinals have won eight of nine at home this season and have swept their last two series at Hammons Field

UP NEXT

SPRINGFIELD: The Cardinals host Arkansas for Game 1 of a four-game series Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm.