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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Complete 4-Game Sweep of Cardinals

August 28, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR - The crowd of 7,157 that was on hand at Arvest Ballpark had reason to cheer from the very beginning as the Naturals offense was on fire from the start. The team used six hits and three walks to post eight runs in the top of the first inning on Friday night, which gave Northwest Arkansas' starter Kyle Zimmer more than enough run support as he fired 5.0 scoreless innings for the Naturals (25-34, 65-64) as they completed the 4-game sweep of the Springfield Cardinals (27-33, 57-73) with a 9-1 win.

Raul Mondesi returned to the lineup and went 2-for-2 with two RBI in the first inning alone as he led off the eight run frame with a single to left field and drove in Frank Schwindel and Parker Morin with a single to right for the fifth and sixth runs of the inning. Lane Adams delivered with the bases loaded to get the scoring started as he nearly missed a Grand Slam but settled for a two-run double off the wall in left field, which scored Mondesi and Jorge Bonifacio. Springfield starter RHP Andrew Morales (4-7 5.29 ERA) only lasted 0.1 of an inning and was removed from the game, but the Naturals would continue their offensive onslaught against Cardinals reliever Joey Donofrio until Bubba Starling capped the inning by scoring Terrance Gore, who had a RBI walk earlier, with a force out.

Jorge Bonifacio added another run for the Naturals in the bottom half of the fourth inning as he connected on a 0-1 pitch to launch a solo homerun to left, his 17th of the season and good for second best in the Texas League, to extend the Naturals lead to 9-0.

Springfield avoided a shutout in the top half of the eighth inning after Mike O'Neill hit a two out single to right-center field to score Breyvic Valera, who reached on an error earlier in the inning, and set the final score at 9-1.

RHP Kyle Zimmer (2-4 2.44 ERA) gave the Naturals his best start of the season as he received the win and shutdown Springfield's offense by holding them to just two hits over five innings while striking out six batters and improving his career record to 3-0 at home. With the victory, the Naturals improved to 13-3 at home against the Cardinals and are now 25-10 in the final games of series.

The Naturals will welcome their in-state rivals, the Arkansas Travelers, to Arvest Ballpark tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m. to begin the final 3-game series of the season at home. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. for our annual Night of 1,000 Giveaways presented by SeaPak.

RHP Paul Clemens (0-0, 6.00 ERA) will make his first start for Northwest Arkansas this year and he'll face RHP Chris Ellis (6-3, 3.52 ERA) of the AA Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Tune in with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, at 5:50 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pre-Game Show leading up to first pitch at 6:05 p.m. on the Naturals' flagship station KQSM 92.1 - FM, the Ticket.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @nwanaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime for all of our up-to-date information on the Texas League playoffs, tickets, groups, promotions, roster, team news, and 2016 information.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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