AMARILLO SOD POODLES AT SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Interstat) — The Amarillo Sod Poodles (28-30) visit Hammons Field on Friday at 7:05 p.m. to face the Springfield Cardinals (26-32) in the third game of a six-game series.

Right-hander Adonys Perez (0-1) is scheduled to start for Amarillo. Braden Davis (0-2) is also listed as a probable pitcher for the Sod Poodles. The Cardinals had not announced a starter at press time.

Amarillo enters after a 14-4 rout of Springfield on Wednesday, the most lopsided game of the season series. The Sod Poodles collected 17 hits, including home runs from Gavin Conticello (two) and Adrian De Leon. Junior Sanchez earned the win, allowing one hit over five scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Conticello, a right fielder, is a player to watch for Amarillo. Over his past 10 games, he is batting .333 (10-for-30) with three home runs and nine RBIs. He went 4-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs in Wednesday’s win and has hit safely in seven of his last eight contests.

Springfield is coming off consecutive losses to Amarillo, dropping Tuesday’s opener 9-5 before the blowout Wednesday. The Cardinals have lost five of their past six games.

Third baseman Dakota Harris is a player to watch for Springfield. He hit a home run and drove in two runs in Wednesday’s loss. Over his past 10 games, Harris is batting .276 (8-for-29) with two home runs and seven RBIs.

The head-to-head series is tied 1-1 this week, with Amarillo winning Wednesday after Springfield took Tuesday’s game. The Cardinals won three of four games in Amarillo from April 3-5.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 win for Springfield.

Following Friday’s game, the teams continue the series Saturday and Sunday.