Naturals Drop Game Two Against Cardinals
Published on April 27, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Chris Dwyer turned in his second consecutive strong start, but the Naturals could not come from behind as the Springfield Cardinals salvaged a split of Tuesday's doubleheader, defeating the Naturals 3-2 in game two at Hammons Field.
Dwyer (1-2) lasted six innings for the second consecutive start, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits. The lefty threw a season-high total of 97 pitches, striking out four with just one walk.
In fact, the Naturals (9-7) outhit Springfield (7-11) in the contest five to three, but the hosts took advantage of their opportunities as they scored three runs in the game's first three innings. In the bottom of the first, Alex Castellanos drove in Ryan Jackson with an RBI groundout that gave Springfield an early 1-0 lead.
After Nick Van Stratten's second home run of the year - a solo shot to left - tied the score at one in the top of the third, the Cardinals put up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. Christian Colon's two-out error allowed Matthew Adams to reach and extend the inning before Castellanos drove in Adams and Thomas Pham with a triple to straightaway center field.
A committee of Cardinals pitchers allowed Springfield to preserve its lead through the middle innings. Richard Castillo started the game and worked into the fourth inning, allowing no damage beyond Van Stratten's home run. Nick Greenwood followed and gave up just one hit in his 2 1/3 innings of work, an effort that allowed the reliever to earn his first win of the season.
The Naturals cut their deficit to one when Anthony Seratelli blasted a two-out solo shot in the top of the seventh, but Matthew Frevert induced a Van Stratten groundout to end the game. Frevert recorded his first save of the 2011 season.
Earlier in the evening, the Naturals topped Springfield 4-3 in a game one that was interrupted by a lengthy rain delay in the top of the seventh inning.
After Springfield knotted the game at three with two runs in the home half of the fifth Salvador Perez gave Northwest Arkansas the lead for good with a solo shot in the six, his second homer of the season.
Patrick Keating entered the game after the 92-minute delay and pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up his second save of the season.
The Naturals and Cardinals will play the third game of the series on Wednesday afternoon as John Lamb (0-1, 5.56) squares off against Nick Additon (1-0, 2.45). The matinee will start just after 12:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on 92.1 The Ticket.
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