Naturals Outlast Springfield in Rainy Victory
Published on May 3, 2017 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Northwest Arkansas extended the club's first-place lead in the Texas League North Division with a 4-1 wet win over the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Naturals earned their third straight victory and executed the club's fourth consecutive win over Springfield in the overall season-series.
Right-hander, Corey Ray (3-1, 3.24) notched his third straight winning decision working 5.0 innings of one-run baseball. Springfield (12-12) strung together three straight hits in the opening inning to yield the lone tally surrendered by Ray and the Naturals. The starter allowed just three hits over his final four innings of work and struck out four Cardinals in the outing.
Northwest Arkansas (14-10) tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning off Springfield starter, Dakota Hudson (1-2, 4.13). Designated hitter, Frank Schwindel, roped his league-leading 10th double down the left-field line to begin the fourth frame and scored two batters later on Zane Evans' RBI single up the middle.
The Naturals capitalized on Springfield's shaky defense in the fifth to take the lead. Donnie Dewees and Alfredo Escalera reached base safely on two consecutive fielding errors by the Cardinals' second baseman, Eliezer Alvaraz. After a deep fly ball by Samir Duenez moved Dewees to third, Hudson uncorked his first of four wild pitches on the rainy afternoon to allowed Dewees to score the go-ahead run.
Jack Lopez plated Humberto Arteaga in the sixth inning to extend the Naturals lead to 3-1 right before the rain delay took effect. The game stalled for an hour and four minutes, halting the action with two outs in the sixth inning.
The Naturals offense continued following the delay in the seventh when Duenez popped his fourth home run of the season over the right-field wall to make it four straight innings in which the Naturals scored a run.
Right-hander, Pedro Fernandez, pitched two innings of scoreless relief while Jake Newberry notched his fourth save achieving the final six outs of the ballgame to cinch the victory.
The Naturals are now 10-2 in North Division play and have won three straight games. Northwest Arkansas is currently 4-1 on the current road trip and are 5-1 against the Cardinals on the season series.
Northwest Arkansas looks for its fourth straight series win in Game 3 of the four-game series on Thursday night against the Cardinals. Left-hander, Matt Tenuta (1-0, 9.64) will make his fourth start of the season in the game against right-hander, Matt Pearce (0-2, 4.57) countering for the Cardinals. Should the Naturals clinch the series, it would be only the second series win at Hammons Field by a Northwest Arkansas club since 2014.
Texas League Stories from May 3, 2017
- Naturals Outlast Springfield in Rainy Victory - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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- Naturals Outlast Cardinals, 6-5, in 12 Innings - Springfield Cardinals
- Waldrop Walk-Off Sends Travs Home Winners - Arkansas Travelers
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- Naturals Win Third Straight in 12-Inning Victory at Springfield - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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