GENTRY HOMERS TWICE BUT NATURALS FALL IN AMARILLO 10-4

AMARILLO, TX – Despite a two-homer night from right fielder Tyler Gentry – including back-to-back home runs in the first inning with Nick Loftin, an offensive outburst in the middle innings from the Amarillo Sod Poodles was too much to overcome, as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals fell Wednesday night, 10-4.

Barely two minutes into the game, Loftin drilled a 448-foot shot to left field, his eighth of the season and second of the series, after homering in the ninth inning Tuesday in his previous at-bat. Four pitches later, it was Gentry's turn, as he connected on his first of the night, the second set of back-to-back homers for the Naturals this season.

Amarillo cut the lead in half in the second inning, then stormed ahead in the third with a four-run frame against starter Alec Marsh, then held that lead for the rest of the night. Marsh struck out four across 4.0 innings of work, also being tagged for two more runs in the fourth inning.

The Sod Poodles struck for three in the sixth off of reliever Will Klein for a 10-2 lead, then Jonah Dipoto took over in the sixth with the bases loaded, stranded them loaded and retired all five batters he faced for 1.2 perfect innings. Andres Sotillet contributed a scoreless eighth inning, but the Naturals could not come back.

After pinch-hitter Brhet Bewley led off the eighth with a single, Gentry capped a 7-pitch at-bat with his second home run of the night, his third of the week and overall sixth with the Naturals in just his 12th Double-A game.

With the series even at a game each, Northwest Arkansas returns to action Thursday at 7:05 p.m. with left-hander Angel Zerpa headed to the mound.