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TL Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Muscle Five Homers in 18-1 Series-Opening Win with Springfield

August 25, 2021 - Texas League (TL)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


The Northwest Arkansas Naturals scored eight runs in the second inning and did not look back, adding five in the third and five in the fourth for an 18-1 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Tuesday night, to open up the series and the 12-game in 13-day homestand.

The 17-run margin of victory is the club's largest not just this season, but in franchise history, topping the 15 runs that they've won by twice, most recently on June 29th this season, a 19-4 win over Springfield.

Eight of the nine Naturals in the starting lineup recorded a hit, with seven of the eight collecting at least two and and four Naturals hitters with three or more.

The 20 hits as a team was the most the team has recorded in a single game this season, but two shy of the franchise record of 22, set on May 22, 2010 against the Arkansas Travelers.

Freddy Fermin led the way early, with a two-run homer in the second inning, later adding a two-run single in the same frame. He finished the night 4-for-5 with five runs batted in, also singling in a run in the third inning.

Brewer Hicklen followed Fermin's homer in the second with a home run of his own on the very next pitch. Hicklen also drove in five runs, going 3-for-4. He later homered in the fourth inning, a three-run shot that moved the score to the 18-1 that held to be the final.

The Naturals recorded two quick outs in the second, then rallied to score five more runs with two outs and sent six straight batters to the plate. Vinnie Pasquantino (MLB Pipeline's No. 19 Royals' prospect) singled in Clay Dungan, then Meibrys Viloria singled home Blake Perkins. Pasquantino came around on a Seuly Matias double, then both Viloria and Matias singled on Fermin's second hit of the inning.

After the Naturals sent 12 to the plate in the second inning, they sent 11 to bat in the third, as five more runs scored. Kevin Merrell led off the frame with an opposite field homer, his second long ball of the season. Perkins singled around Jimmy Govern, Dungan scored on a bases loaded walk drawn by Matias then Fermin singled in Perkins and Hicklen drew another bases loaded walk that brought across Viloria.

Northwest Arkansas added five more in the third, on a two-run homer from Perkins and then Hicklen's three-run homer, bringing his season total to 12.

Starter Ronald Bolaños (MLB Pipeline's No. 26 Royals' prospect) continued his MLB Rehab Assignment and pitched into the third inning after not making it out of the first in his last outing. He allowed just one run while striking out two, then handed the ball off to Nolan Watson, who threw his best outing of the season.

Across a season-high 4.2 innings, Watson did not allow a run and struck out two, earning his third win of the year.

Garrett Davila made his Double-A debut after Watson and offered 1.1 scoreless with a strikeout, then Holden Capps finished the night with a scoreless ninth inning.

Dungan finished the night 3-for-6 with three runs scored, Perkins went 2-for-5 with three scored and three driven in, while Pasquantino went 3-for-5 with two scored and one driven in, his 11th multi-hit game in 32 played at the Double-A level.

Viloria and Matias each added two hits and both scored twice, with Matias also driving in two runs.

After the historic victory, Northwest Arkansas (50-36) goes back to work against Springfield (35-62) on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. with Jonathan Heasley (MLB Pipeline's No. 15 Royals' prospect) starting on the mound for the Naturals.

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