[rink23]

Record: 35-25, 2nd, 3.5 GB Cedar Rapids
Tied 4-4, Springfield ravaged the St. Louis bullpen for six runs in the top of the ninth inning for a 10-4 win in the opening game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium (1997).
The River Walkers had tied it in the bottom of the eighth when Andrew Beinitendi hit a two-run homer off Prairie Fighters reliever Juan Then.
In that top of the ninth, Andres Gimenez got things going for Springfield by drawing a lead-off walk from reliever J.B. Wendelken.
Daniel Becerra flew out for the first out, and Williams Jerez replaced Wendelken.
One of the best lefty on lefty relievers in the game, Jerez didn't have it in this game.
Riley Greene, who had hit a two-run homer off St. Louis starter Tanner Bibee to open the scoring in the top of the first, greeted Jerez with a double which put runners at second and third.
Alex Bregman was given an intentional walk, setting up a force at any base.
But Dylan Crews ruined that strategy with a two-run double.
Eric Hosmer followed with another single, scoring Bregman, to make it 7-4.
With the Walkers forced to conserve their bullpen with a second game of the doubleheader remaining, Andrew Noviello capped the outburst with a three-run homer off Jerez.
Springfield starter D.J. Jefferson had to exit after 4.2 innings with a forearm injury. He allowed two runs on two hits.
He was followed to the mound by Keegan Thompson (2.0 IP), Justin Jarvis (0.1), Then (1.0) and Mario Reyes (1.0).
Then earned his first win of the season.