BIG INNING COSTS NATURALS FOURTH STRAIGHT LOSS TO CARDINALS

SPRINGDALE, AR – What started out as a pitchers’ duel spiraled into a fourth straight loss for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, as a six-run sixth for the Springfield Cardinals was the difference in a 7-1 loss for the Naturals Friday night.

Starting pitchers Angel Zerpa and Michael McGreevy battled toe-to-toe, each with six strikeouts through 4.0 scoreless innings.

The tops of the third and fourth innings both came to an end on outfield assists, as John Rave gunned down the potential first run of the game at home to end the third, while Tyler Gentry stopped the Cardinals from scoring with a strong throw from right field to home plate to the end fourth.

Both clubs scored an unearned run in the fifth, with a Zerpa throwing error putting the Cardinals ahead briefly, before the Naturals tied it up in the bottom of the inning, as Jake Means scored from third on a throwing error.

Zerpa kept Springfield to the unearned run on six hits with six strikeouts through five innings, but was tagged for six runs in the sixth and could only record one out. Jonah Dipoto and Stephen Woods Jr. combined out the bullpen to follow Zerpa and pitch the final 3.2 innings scoreless to stop the bleeding.

Robbie Glendinning and Rave each collected two hits in the contest, but the Naturals were held scoreless for the final four innings, with 11 of the last 12 retired by the Springfield bullpen.

Northwest Arkansas returns to action Saturday at 6:05 p.m. with Marcelo Martinez making the start for the Naturals.