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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Claim Series with 12-5 Win over Springfield

June 1, 2019 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Naturals pounded out 12 runs on 13 hits to aid the Double-A debut of top prospect, Brady Singer, all while claiming the series with a 12-5 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Saturday night at Hammons Field. It's just the third series win at Hammons Field since 2014 and the ninth in franchise history.

Even before Singer threw a pitch, his offensive teammates gifted him a 4-0 lead. Nick Heath ripped the first pitch of the game from starter, Johan Oviedo (1-2, 7.03 ERA) into the right-centerfield gap for a lead-off triple and scored on a base-hit by Khalil Lee past the drawn-in infield.

Later in the inning, Meibrys Viloria stepped the plate with the bags loaded and banged a three-run double off the centerfield wall to push the advantage to 4-0. Northwest Arkansas (23-31) did not relinquish the lead.

Singer (1-0, 3.60 ERA) posted an erratic first inning which led to unearned run. The frame featured a lead-off hit batsman, a walk, catcher's interference, a double-play which scored the first run. Then a walk followed by a base-hit gave the Cardinals a two-run inning.

Northwest Arkansas retaliated with a three-run third inning. Gabriel Cancel hit his team-leading 11th home run of the season to lead-off the inning and a two-run home run by Kort Peterson - his fifth of the year - soon followed to move the advantage to 7-2.

Singer allowed a two-out, two-run home run in the fourth inning before retiring the last four hitters faced. The 22-year old finished five innings, allowed four runs - two earned - on four hits with a season-high three walks and one strikeout.

The Naturals led 8-4 in the top of the eighth inning before a 47-minute rain delay occurred. Once it ended, the Naturals put on three more runs in the top of the eighth, with Cancel driving home his second RBI of the game, giving him a Texas League-best, 48 on the season. Travis Jones chipped in a run-scoring triple in the ninth inning to make it a 12-5 score.

Right-hander, Drew Storen pitched a full-inning of scoreless relief with a strikeout, walk and a hit allowed. Andres Sotillet allowed a run on two hits in the seventh and Grant Gavin covered the eighth and ninth innings following the delay with shutout baseball.

Cancel finished 2-for-3 in the game and has now driven in at least two runs in six consecutive games, the longest such streak by a Naturals' player this season. Viloria finished with a season-high four hits including a pair of doubles. Jones ended 2-for-4 with a double and a triple after not recording an extra-base hit in his previous 14 contests.

The Naturals hunt for the series sweep over the Cardinals on Sunday evening with a 6:10 p.m. first pitch from Hammons Field. With the win, the Naturals would complete just the third series sweep of the Cardinals in Springfield in franchise history and the first since 2011.

Left-hander, J.C. Cloney (1-0, 3.12 ERA) takes the hill tomorrow night for his third start as a Natural against right-hander, Williams Perez (5-2, 5.22 ERA) for the Cardinals.

First pitch is slated for 6:10 p.m. with the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show beginning at 5:50 with the "Voice of the Naturals," Benjamin Kelly on AM-1590, the Ticket-2 and the Naturals Radio Network.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

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