Late rally puts HR Cardenales in playoffs

More importantly, the Cardenales wrapped up the fourth and final playoff spot from the North Division in the Grand Slam Hispanic Baseball League.

“That was a huge ending for us,” team manager Todd Bofferding said. “This team plays with such heart. Our guys never give up, and even though we’re the fourth seed heading in, we know anything can happen.”

The Cardenales (8-6) will face the first-place Portland Rangers in a best-of-three series, which begins Sunday in Portland. Win or lose, the team will play game two in Hood River on July 21. Game three, if necessary, would be played July 28 in Portland.

“We match up really well against the Rangers,” Bofferding said of his team, which lost two one-run games to the Rangers during the regular season. “As long as we continue to take advantage of our speed and stay in games late, we’ve got a chance.”

The Cardenales proved that Sunday, managing to stay close to the Aguilas despite falling behind three times. Starting pitcher Manuel Cervantes kept the Cardenales in it through five innings, leaving the game down 5-2.

But the offense bailed him out with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a two-run homerun by Javier Loera.

The Aguilas went up 6-5 in the sixth, but Cardenales all-star second baseman Victor Cervantes tied it up with a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh.

After falling behind yet again in the top of the ninth, Rodriguez capped a five-RBI day with a first-pitch line drive to score Juan Ledezma, Hugo Sandoval and Cervantes.

“I’m not sure if the Aguilas knew who was on deck when they walked Hugo,” Bofferding said, “but Andy made them pay.”

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Playoff schedule

Sunday, July 14: HR Cardenales at Portland Rangers

Sunday, July 21: Rangers at Cardenales

Sunday, July 28 (if necessary): Cardenales at Rangers