ZERPA'S DELIVERS BRILLIANT START, BUT SOD POODLES WALK OFF ON NATURALS

AMARILLO, TX – Despite three home runs and seven shutout innings from Angel Zerpa, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals lost 5-4 to the Amarillo Sod Poodles on a walk-off Thursday night.

Zerpa turned in the best start of his professional career, throwing 7.0 innings without allowing a run, surrendering just two hits and a walk, while striking out nine. The left-hander retired the final nine he faced and 15 of his last 16, his first time completing seven innings, with a career-high 96 pitches.

He received run support early, as the Naturals drew three walks in the first inning and Nick Loftin scored from third on a wild pitch for a quick 1-0 lead. Loftin led off the third inning with a solo home run, his ninth of the season and third straight game with a homer to double the Northwest Arkansas lead.

Moments later, Robbie Glendinning cranked his ninth homer of the year out to left field for a 3-0 lead, then Jake Means added insurance in the seventh with his first homer of the week and sixth of the season, a solo shot to left-center.

After Zerpa finished the seventh, right-hander Yefri Del Rosario loaded the bases with singles in the eighth and surrendered a game-tying grand slam to Amarillo DH Leandro Cedeno, knotting the score at 4-4.

Northwest Arkansas was retired in order in the top of the ninth, with a flyout to the right field warning track from catcher Tyler Cropley, who reached base twice with walks in the game.

Del Rosario took the mound again in the bottom of the ninth, as the first Sod Poodle, Tim Tawa, reached on an error from right fielder Seuly Matias. Tawa took third on a subsequent single and scored on a deep sacrifice fly, as Amarillo walked off for its second win of the week.

Northwest Arkansas will try and even the series Friday, as right-hander Noah Murdock takes the mound at 7:05 p.m. from Amarillo.