Mieses walk-off grand slam delivers for Cardinals in extras

By Matt Turer

July 17, 2018

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- If you blinked, you missed it.

Tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 10th, Johan Mieses strolled into the box with the bases loaded and two outs. One pitch. One swing. Game over.

Mieses sent a walkoff grand slam deep into the night and was greeted at home with a pair of showers delivered by a mob of teammates, securing a 10-6 win for the Cardinals after Springfield entered the bottom half of the 10th trailing 6-5.

Just getting to Mieses took a mini two-out rally. Springfield was looking at runners on first and second with two outs in the 10th before a Bryan Brickhouse wild pitch moved Evan Mendoza to third and Lane Thomas to second.

But Brickhouse wasn't done displaying those control woes.

Blake Drake walked on five pitches, loading the bases. Then, a second wild pitch allowed Mendoza to score and the Cardinals to tie the game 6-6. In response, the Naturals decided to intentionally walk Victor Roache, setting the scene for Mieses's heroics.

MEANWHILE, BEFORE THE WALKOFF

Roache opened scoring with a 410-foot bomb to center, his 17th dinger of the season.

The Naturals pulled even in the third when Corey Toups's sacrifice fly allowed Nick Dini to score.

Northwest Arkansas snagged its first lead of the series on a two-run fourth-inning single by Jecksson Flores that broughT in Alex Liddi and Kelvin Gutierrez.

Tommy Edman's double in the fourth brought the Cardinals back within a run at 3-2, but a two-run homer from Anderson Miller an inning later put the Naturals up 5-2.

Martinez pulled the Cardinals back within a run with a two-run shot in the fifth.

An inning later, Edman scored Roache off a force out, tying the game 5-5.

Springfield starter Jake Woodford went five innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and striking out three.

Austin Sexton and Junior Fernandez combined for 4.0 scoreless relief innings.

Hector Mendoza allowed the Naturals to take a 6-5 lead in the 10th off a Dini single and was eventually credited with the win.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals and Naturals continue their series Tuesday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:30pm.

Tuesday is a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day, where fans can enjoy hot dogs all night for just a buck.

Also Tuesday, the Springfield Cardinals and BUSH'S Beans are working with Ozark's Food Harvest to Team Up Against Hunger.

In its second year, this program encourages fans to bring non-perishable food donations to Hammons Field between now and Tuesday, July 17. Inturn for each item donated, fans can purchase a $1 ticket to our July 17 game vs. the Northwest Arkansas Naturals for helping to feed the local community through Ozark's Food Harvest. Tuesday is also a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day, so fans who donate can take in a Cardinals game and enjoy hot dogs for just a buck.

The following is a list of items requested by Ozark's Food Harvest:

- Tuna or other canned meat
- Peanut butter
- Beans, soups or stews
- Boxed meals, rice and pasta
- Canned vegetables
- Cereal