Cardinals Lose to Cincinnati in Connie Mack World Series

The Orange County Cardinals let a four-run lead get away and lost to Cincinnati, 11-6, Tuesday in the third round of the double-elimination Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M.

The Cardinals scored six runs in the second inning to take a 6-2 lead. Troy Babbitt of Western High School hit a two-run home run, his fourth in the first three games of the tournament.

Cincinnati came back to score five runs in the second to take a 7-6 lead. Starter Tony Pena of Mater Dei allowed two hits, walked a batter and hit another before being replaced in the second by Joe Blyleven of Villa Park, who took the loss.

Cincinnati scored single runs in the third and fifth and two in the sixth.

Babbitt had two hits, and Doug McConathy, who also went to Western, had three hits for the Cardinals. Babbitt and McConathy plan to play at Cypress College this fall.

Dallas plays Puerto Rico and Orange County plays Cincinnati, the only undefeated team, today in the fourth round. The pairings are done by drawing.