Springfield - The Springfield Cardinals took advantage of six Midland errors, defeating the RockHounds in Tuesday’s series-finale by a score of 10-5.

Jim Rapoport had three hits, including a home run to lead off the game, his fourth of the year.

Springfield starter Ryan Kulik (4-6) earned the win with five innings of work, while Tyler Norrick battled out of an eighth-inning jam, earning the final four outs to record his fifth save of the year.

Rapoport becomes the first Cardinal in nearly a year to go deep to lead off the game, with Daryl Jones being the last on August 20th of last year. His fourth homer of the year put Springfield ahead to stay at 1-0.

The Cards would send nine men to the plate in the first inning against Midland starter Travis Banwart (6-4), taking a 3-0 lead. Andrew Brown’s sac fly made it 2-0, while Mike Folli’s infield hit added Springfield’s third run.

The Cards got another in the third, when Rapoport’s sac fly brought in Antone DeJesus, as Springfield took a 4-0 advantage.

Midland chipped away, scoring a run in the third, one in the fourth and another in the fifth, pulling to within a run at 4-3.

Springfield capitalized on a pair of Midland errors in the sixth though, scoring four times to take an 8-3 lead. Tony Cruz’s two-run double highlighted the inning for the Cards.

An RBI single by Steven Hill in the seventh made it 9-3 against reliever Dewon Day.

Springfield reliever Sam Freeman worked two scoreless innings, then turned it over to Brian Broderick, who retired the first two men he faced in the eighth. Broderick got into trouble though, allowing four consecutive hitters to reach with two outs, as RBI singles from Matt Sulentic and Michael Affronti made it a 9-5 game. With the tying run in the on-deck circle, Tyler Norrick came out of the bullpen and struck out Raul Padron, ending the eighth inning.

Tyler Henley’s RBI double capped the scoring in the ninth, as the Cards took a 10-5 lead.

Norrick remained in the game to record the final three outs and earn his fifth save in six chances this year.

Springfield (10-8, 48-40) finishes the six-game road trip at 3-3, including two of three over Midland.

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