Cardinals Limp into Playoffs

The Arlington Cardinals concluded their regular season Monday with a 7-5 loss to Reading at Spy Pond Field.

The Cardinals, at 12-10-2, clinched a playoff berth prior to Monday's game, but coach John O'Brien said it'll be a short stay unless his team starts playing up to its potential.

"If we keep playing like we did tonight, we're not going to go too far (in the playoffs)," he said.

O'Brien's team made four errors against Reading, 15-6-1, that led to four unearned runs, including the game-winning run in the sixth and final inning.

The game was cut short one inning due to darkness.

Arlington had a 5-2 lead entering the fifth inning.

Brian Walsh, Sean McCarthy and Christian Sleeper scored three runs off Reading errors in the bottom of the first inning to give the Cardinals an early 3-1 lead.

McCarthy, the team's ace, kept Arlington in the game, allowing five runs, three earned, in five innings of work.

Arlington got RBI singles from Walsh and first baseman Dan Fitzgerald in the fourth inning to make it 5-2.

However, Reading came right back in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on six hits to tie the game at 5-5.

With the wind picking up and the sun setting in the sixth inning, Reading got two more runs after the inning was prolonged by two errors. Reading's center fielder Nick Scali, the team's leadoff hitter, scored the game's final run with a straight steal of home plate.

Cardinals pitcher Evan Walsh received the loss, even though he didn't allow an earned run in two innings of relief. Reading's Adam Halley picked up the win.

Playoff match-ups have not yet been set.