Four Arms Hold Naturals to Two Hits, Jarvis Fans Eight in Win

Springdale, Arkansas (April 19, 2023) – The Amarillo Sod Poodles came out on top in their first win of their six-game set on Wednesday night, topping the Naturals, 5-0. The Soddies' bullpen built off of RHP Bryce Jarvis' strong start who held the Naturals hitless through 5.0 innings. Jarvis started the contest by fanning eight out of 18 batters he faced while allowing just four walks.

RHP Christian Montes De Oca, LHP Kyle Backhus and RHP Raffi Vizcaino all came out of the 'pen and combined to allow just two hits and as many walks while punching out five batters through 4.0 innings.

1B Tristin English broke the stalemate with a lead-off solo shot in the top of the fourth inning, a 346-foot nuke over the left field wall to notch a 1-0 lead.

A 405-foot bomb followed in similar fashion in the fifth off the bat of DH Adrian Del Castillo for Amarillo's 17th homer as a club this campaign, good for the second most team home runs across all of Double-A.

The hot streak did not end there with the Sod Poodles continuing to run up the score in the 7th inning. C Juan Centeno plated Del Castillo with an RBI-single which was followed up by a wild pitch off of Naturals' Jonah Dipoto to score Amarillo's fourth base runner of the night, raising the stakes to 4-0.

Northwest Arkansas did not earn their first hit until they were down to their final six outs of the contest, knocking a lead-off double in the bottom of the eighth.

The Sod Poodles picked up another insurance run in the top of the ninth when Bliss drove in Del Castillo while down to two outs. The Naturals were not able to respond and fell to the Soddies, avoiding being no-hit by just a two-knock margin.

The Sod Poodles will send RHP Luke Albright to the bump tomorrow as Amarillo looks to take the advantage in their series which is currently stalled at 1-1. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

NOTES:

SHUT...IT...DOWN: The Soddies pitching staff allowed just two hits in the shutout while walking six and fanning 13 batters. Tonight was Amarillo's 16th time throwing a combined shutout through 9.0 innings and was their third time allowing a combined two hits through nine in franchise history.

JAR-JAR BRYCE: RHP Bryce Jarvis tossed 5.0 hitless innings while walking four batters and punching out eight. This was the Duke-alum's first time in his professional career not allowing a hit in an outing, having allowed just one hit on three different occasions with his last coming on 4/16/22 (@ TUL). Jarvis also matched a season high of eight punchies which he accomplished on 4/13/23 (vs. CC).

TRUST TRISTIN: 1B Tristin English went 2-for-4 with a homer, a double, an RBI and a run scored and is currently tied for first in homers on the club with three. English has earned a hit in six of his first seven games in 2023 with five going for extra bases, accumulating two doubles and three homers while slashing .292/414/750. The Georgia-native has not had a multi-XBH night since he logged two on 6/19/22, with Hillsboro, which was also a double and home run night.

CASTILLO AWAY: DH Adrian Del Castillo slammed a 405-foot long ball in the fifth inning and finished the contest going 2-for-4 with a homer, double, RBI and three runs scored. Del Castillo has earned eight knocks in as many games played this season while posting three multi-hit performances, all of the two-hit variety. If he plays in every game for the rest of the regular season (127 G), his two homers in eight games projects him to launch 31 more balls over the wall.

THE NIGHTMAN COMETH: Across the Sod Poodles' first 10 night games this season, they boast a 6-4 record. Across all of Double-A, while playing at night, the Soddies hold the crown for hits (96), total bags (167), home runs (15), slugging (.490) and OPS (.837) while coming in second for AVG (96-for-341), runs (60) and RBI (55). Additionally, Amarillo's pitching staff's 110 strikeouts in night games this season is good for second most in Double-A.