photo: Darlin Moquete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-0 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield OF Darlin Moquete, was 2-for-4 with the go-ahead RBI in Springfield’s playoff victory. Other standouts include Jeremy Rivas, Ixan Henderson, Mason Burns, and Dakota Harris.
Results for Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
Springfield Cardinals 4 at Midland RockHounds 3 (Championship Series Game Two)
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals edged the Midland RockHounds on the road by the score of 4-3 in Game Two of the Texas League Championship Series on Tuesday.
Starter Ixan Henderson pitched six innings and allowed three runs on three hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. The Texas League Pitcher of the Year earned his second playoff win.
JUST. ONE. MORE. WIN. pic.twitter.com/0pkjZcPwyg
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 24, 2025
Ricardo Velez relieved Henderson and threw 1 ⅔ shutout frames. Mason Burns tossed 1 ⅓ scoreless, no-hit innings to collect his second playoff save.
The RockHounds went up 3-0 in the fourth inning on a three-run home run by Midland LF Clark Elliot.
The Cardinals answered with two runs in the fifth to narrow the gap to one run.
Noah Mendlinger singled and scored on a Leonardo Bernal triple for the Cardinals’ first run.
Dakota Harris plated Bernal on a single to move Springfield within a run at 3-2.
The Cardinals plated two runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead.
Miguel Ugueto walked. Jeremy Rivas tripled to drive in Ugueto and tie the game at three.
Rivas came home on a single by Darlin Moquete.
NOT. DONE. YET. Down 3-0 in a do-or-die game, Springfield mounts a comeback to take a 4-3 lead! pic.twitter.com/2jE4m5Ky43
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 24, 2025
Springfield’s bullpen allowed just one hit in the final three innings to push the series to a decisive third game.
BALLGAME. Springfield pushes the Texas League Championship to a winner-take-all game three Wednesday night! pic.twitter.com/rZ92Lg7Urs
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 24, 2025
NOT. DONE. YET. pic.twitter.com/ZGRd1P3dPZ
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 24, 2025
The Cardinals scored four runs on nine hits. Rivas was 2-for-3 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI. Moquete was 2-for-4 with the go-ahead RBI. Harris was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Bernal tripled and drove in a run. Mendlinger was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
On the bases, Rivas stole his first bag of the playoffs. Harris swiped his first base of the postseason.
On defense, right fielder Mendlinger nailed a runner at second base to highlight an errorless contest.
Springfield is 1-1 in the Texas League Championship Series and will play Midland in the third and deciding game on Wednesday. Lefty Brycen Mautz is slated to take the mound as Springfield looks to take the Texas League crown.
Wednesday’s game (Championship Series Game Three): at Midland, Brycen Mautz LHP (1-0, 0.00) vs. TBD (MID) 6:30 PM CT.
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