Luke Abrew and Tyler Looney of the Cardinals combined to three-hit the White Sox on Thursday in a 7-2 win for the White Sox in Northgate minor playoff action on Bassi Field. The Cardinals win sets up a winner-take-all showdown between the two teams on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Things started off rough for Abrew as he walked the first three batters of the game, but a throw home on an infield grounder followed by a strikeout and a pop fly to Abrew ended that White Sox threat. 

Abrew pitched into the fourth before giving up a hit and yielding the hill to Looney with two out. It took Looney just one pitch to get out of the inning as a fielder’s choice ended the frame.

Nolan Mix and Looney singled in the first inning for the Cardinals and both came in on Abrew’s single. Looney (2 for 2, triple, three RBI, run) had the big hit of a four-run third with a bases-clearing triple. Grant Sonke had a ground-rule double in the second for the Cardinals to score Davion Conrad and Logan Van Dyk doubled for the Cardinals in the fourth but was left stranded at second.

Steven Lackey tripled for White Sox in the fifth inning, scoring Jayden Lopez. Lackey scored on a fielder’s choice by Lance Tremor.