After losing game one to the Midland RockHounds in the Texas League finals, the Springfield Cardinals scored four unanswered runs to win the second game of the series. In the rubber match, the Double-A Cardinals left no question to who the best team was. The Cardinals clinched their second title and first since 2012 with a decisive 13-1 victory against the Athletics’ affiliate.

The visitors got things started early as five of the first six hitters reached base to give the Cardinals a 3-0 league before the home team RockHounds even got a chance to bat. Zach Levenson pushed across the third run when his single drove in catcher Leonardo Bernal to give Springfield starter Brycen Mautz plenty of cushion. Mautz, who threw five shutout innings in the game that clinched the Finals appearance, shoved again in the final game of the season. The lefty pitched six innings, giving up just one run on five hits and struck out three batters.

The early lead was plenty for Mautz but the offense was not satisfied as they piled on runs in bunches in the middle innings. Going into the top of the fourth ahead 3-1, the top of Springfield’s lineup got things moving again. Jon Jon Gazdar knocked a one-out single and was driven in, along with Noah Messinger, on a Bernal single to pad the score. Springfield would score in each of the next three innings, including a five-spot in the seventh to break the game open. Dakota Harris and Ramon Mendoza each smacked two-run doubles in the inning to give the Cardinals a big 13-1 lead with just nine outs to go.

It was up to the Springfield bullpen for the rest of the way and they answered the call, covering the final three innings without giving up a run. Austin Love was first in relief and allowed a lead-off walk but got a force out and a double play to end the inning without any damage. Hunter Hayes followed Love and closed his Double-A campaign with a shutout inning of work while working around two baserunners. The Cardinals went to Zane Mills to close the door and he delivered, clinching Springfield’s second title with a groundout to first base.

The Cardinals’ impressive outburst was even better as the offense had at least one baserunner in every inning and knocked out 19 hits, drew six walks, and struck out seven times as nine batters reached base in the game. Jon Jon Gazdar and Zach Levenson led the way with four hits apiece and Dakota Harris drove in four runs with Leonardo Bernal and Ramon Mendoza each knocking in three runs of their own.

Springfield’s title run finished their phenomenal season as they won both halves of the Texas League season. Along with the team championship, top prospect JJ Wetherholt, pitcher Ixan Henderson, and manager Patrick Anderson all earned individual awards. With such a successful year, it would not be surprising to see a few players moving up to Triple-A next season.