SOD POODLES SCORE FIVE UNANSWERED RUNS TO BEAT NATURALS 7-5

SPRINGDALE, AR – Despite three home runs in the first three innings for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Amarillo Sod Poodles stormed ahead with five unanswered runs in the middle innings, to take Saturday night’s game 7-5 over the Naturals.

The two teams combined for six home runs across the first four innings of the game, with Amarillo taking a 2-0 lead early, after homers in the first and second innings.

In the bottom of the second, Northwest Arkansas jumped ahead with two homers of its own, a solo shot from catcher Sebastian Rivero and a two-run homer from second baseman Ryan Grotjohn, his first hit of the year to give the Naturals a 3-2 lead.

Michael Massey connected on his team-leading fourth home run of the year in the third inning, driving in Maikel Garcia to put the Naturals up 5-2 at the time.

The Sod Poodles inched back, scoring two in the fourth to get within one, then one in the fifth to tie the game at 5-5. The score stayed tied until the seventh, when runs scored on a single and fielder’s choice, moving the score to the 7-5 that held to be the final.

Starting pitcher Alec Marsh went 4.0 innings, striking out seven while walking just one on four runs. Holden Capps took the loss, allowing three runs with four strikeouts over 3.0 innings, his longest outing of the year.

Left-hander Zack Phillips finished the game on the mound for Northwest Arkansas, with 2.0 scoreless innings on just 17 pitches.

The Naturals look to split the series with Amarillo Sunday at 2:05 p.m. CT, with left-hander Drew Parrish making his second start of the week.