TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Springfield tops Naturals with big fifth

Published on July 29, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MO - The Springfield Cardinals knocked starter Will Smith out of the game in a seven-run bottom of the fifth that proved to be decisive, as the Naturals fell, 11-4, at Hammons Field on Friday night. Entering the game with wins in his last two starts, Smith (9-9) opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a 3-2 lead but allowed seven consecutive Springfield (15-19, 47-57) hitters to reach base to open the frame. Ryan Jackson gave the Cardinals the lead for good with a two-run triple, and three batters later, Zack Cox delivered a double that plated another pair of runs.

Jose Garcia followed with yet another two-run double, chasing Smith from the game. The left-hander allowed nine runs on 10 hits in four-plus innings and struck out just one batter while walking two.

After Smith departed, Mario Santiago allowed an inherited runner to score on Daryl Jones' RBI single, making the score 9-3. For his part, Santiago kept the Cardinals off the board in the sixth and seventh, striking out a pair. The Naturals (18-16, 53-48) led early in Friday's contest, as Christian Colon blasted a solo home run in the top of the first. Colon's eighth long ball of the season gave his team a 1-0 lead.

Springfield then countered with a pair of runs in the home half of the second, as Charlie Cutler plated one with a sacrifice fly before Audry Perez' RBI single. Two innings later, Manny Pina cracked a two-run single to put the Naturals back ahead in what was a back-and-forth affair in the early innings.

Following Springfield's big fifth, starter Michael Blazek (10-4) held the Northwest Arkansas offense in check. Blazek did yield six hits and three walks but kept the Cardinals' cushion intact as he pitched into the seventh inning. The right-hander fanned seven Naturals in 6 2/3, tossing 106 pitches over the course of his outing.

With the game all but decided, each team generated some offense in the eighth. In the top half of the inning, Anthony Seratelli and Pina hit back-to-back doubles off of reliever Nick Greenwood. But Springfield's Ryan Jackson responded with a two-run homer off of Willy Lebron in the bottom of the frame, making the score 11-4.

David Kopp worked around a leadoff walk as he pitched a scoreless ninth, inducing a double play and another groundout to end the game.

The loss is just the Naturals' third defeat in nine games at Hammons Field this season. Colon, Seratelli and Pina each recorded two hits in the game, as Seratelli stole his 29th base of the season in the contest.

The Naturals and Cardinals will meet on Saturday evening in the second game of the series. Springfield's Shelby Miller (6-2, 2.29) will throw the first pitch just after 6:00 p.m. as he matches up with Jeremy Jeffress (0-0, 3.86) for a second straight start. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.

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Texas League Stories from July 29, 2011


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