Naturals Edge Cardinals, 5-3, on Wednesday
Published on August 26, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release
Springdale, AR - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals edged the Springfield Cardinals, 5-3, before 3,076 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Wednesday night.
Northwest Arkansas (23-34, 63-64) opened an early advantage with the game's first run in the bottom of the first against RHP Corey Baker. SS Ramon Torres worked a walk to open the frame, before flying around from first on an RBI double by CF Bubba Starling to make it 1-0.
Springfield (27-31, 57-71) tilted the lead in their favor in the top of the third against RHP Luke Farrell. With one away, DH Mike O'Neill singled himself aboard. 2B Bruce Caldwell followed with a towering two-run blast to right field, his ninth homer of the year, catapulting the Cardinals into the 2-1 lead.
Baker kept the Cardinals in front with a scoreless third and fourth, but the Naturals dealt the next blow in the bottom of the fifth. With 1B Frank Schwindel on at second base and two away, Torres knocked an RBI triple to center field. With Torres sliding into third base on the play, an errant relay throw from Caldwell bounced past third and out of play, enabling Torres to come in the final ninety feet on the over-throw and lift the Naturals back in front, 3-2.
The Cardinals, though, battled it back even right away in the top of the sixth against RHP Matt Murray (W, 6-3). With two away, SS Breyvic Valera and CF Charlie Tilson kept the inning alive with consecutive singles, putting runners at first and second for O'Neill. O'Neill came through with a two-out RBI single through the right side, plating Valera to square the score at 3-3.
RHP Kurt Heyer (L, 6-1) kept the tie intact through a scoreless bottom of the sixth, but Northwest Arkansas rallied once again in the bottom of the seventh. With one down, C Parker Morin and LF Terrance Gore began the charge with back-to-back base hits. After a pop out, Starling extended the stanza with a two-out walk, loading the bases. DH Jorge Bonifacio then rifled a go-ahead, two-run single through the middle, swinging Northwest Arkansas into the 5-3 advantage.
The Naturals received a scoreless eighth inning from RHP Aroni Nina, before RHP Mark Peterson (S, 2) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to close the 5-3 win for Northwest Arkansas.
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