ALEXANDER HOMERS TWICE AS NATURALS FALL TO TRAVELERS, 6-4
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR – Northwest Arkansas Naturals first baseman CJ Alexander homered twice and drove in three of the Naturals’ four runs, but the Arkansas Travelers came out ahead, 6-4 on Thursday night. The Travelers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, scoring runs in each of the first
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR – Northwest Arkansas Naturals first baseman CJ Alexander homered twice and drove in three of the Naturals’ four runs, but the Arkansas Travelers came out ahead, 6-4 on Thursday night.
The Travelers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, scoring runs in each of the first three innings. After Tyler Gentry walked in the fourth, Alexander blasted a two-run home run to right field, extending his hitting streak to nine games.
After a flyout, Seuly Matias connected on his second hit of the day, a loud solo homer to left field, his 15th of the season, to bring the Naturals within two runs at a 5-3 score.
While the Travs added a run in the eighth to inch a run away, Alexander responded with a two-strike, two-out home run, his 22nd overall this season and seventh with the Naturals – and third multi-homer game of the year.
Through eight games in August, Alexander is hitting .353 with hits in every game, eight home runs and now 15 RBI this month, with 23 total through 21 games for Northwest Arkansas.
After allowing five runs over the first three innings, starter Anthony Veneziano settled down to throw two scoreless innings to end his outing. Right-hander Will Klein followed with 2.0 more scoreless frames, then Jonah Dipoto surrendered a run in the eighth but struck out two.
Northwest Arkansas looks to even the series Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT with right-hander Alec Marsh headed to the mound for the Naturals.