Naturals cling to 7-6 win for series split

June 8, 2018

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals struck for three runs in the eighth and ninth, but the Northwest Arkansas Naturals escaped with a 7-6 win before 4,637 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Friday night.

The Cardinals (30-30) came out swinging with two runs in the top of the first against RHP Scott Blewett (W, 3-4). 2B Edmundo Sosa started the charge with a single, before scoring all the way from first base on an RBI double by CF Lane Thomas. 3B Evan Mendoza followed with a single that moved Thomas to third, before LF Victor Roache laced an RBI single to right, plating Thomas and making it 2-0.

RHP Anthony Shew (L, 2-2) started his night with four scoreless innings, before the Naturals (29-31) plated a two-out run in the fifth with a base hit by SS Nicky Lopez, slicing the Cardinals lead to 2-1.

Springfield got the run right back in the top of the sixth. With two away, RF Granden Goetzman scorched a double to left field, followed by an RBI single from C Jeremy Martinez to increase the lead back to two tallies, 3-1.

The Naturals, though, rattled off five runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one on and one out, 3B Jecksson Flores sent a double to left field that skipped by LF Victor Roache, with the miscue enabling LF Anderson Miller to score all the way from first. C Nick Dini then tied it with an RBI single, followed by a go-ahead two-run blast from DH John Brontsema. After a CF Donnie Dewees triple and a strikeout, Lopez placed another two-out RBI single, scoring Dewees to make it 6-3 in favor of the Naturals.

After Naturals C Luis Villegas added a seventh run with a solo shot in the seventh, the Cardinals started their comeback bid in the top of the eighth. With Blewett still on the mound and two away, 1B Chris Chinea belted a solo blast to left field, his seventh homer of the year to chase Blewett. LHP Sam Selman entered, but lost Goetzman to a walk, followed by a single from Martinez to put two on with two away. DH Stefan Trosclair then placed an RBI single through the right side, bringing in Goetzman to bring Springfield within two runs. However, RHP Jake Newberry (S, 10) took over and ended the eighth with a strikeout to keep the Naturals ahead, 7-5.

With Newberry back on the mound, the Cardinals had one last push in the ninth. A one-out double from CF Blake Drake got the rally started. He then moved to third on a single from 3B Evan Mendoza, followed by another RBI single from Roache to make it a one-run ballgame. With the tying run at second, Newberry dug in with a fly out and a strikeout to the next two Cardinals, getting the Naturals out of the jam for the 7-6 win.
Super-Soft Baby Blue T-Shirts, Military Appreciation Fireworks, Orange Camo Caps, "YADI" Tumblers and more from June 9 - 16
Springfield returns home for a huge homestand from Saturday, June 9 - Saturday, June 16. Don't miss any of the fun, including:

-Saturday, June 9, 6:10pm - Mercy Super-Soft Baby Blue T-Shirt Giveaway (2,000), Infuze Credit Union / Fort Leonard Wood Military Appreciation Night & Fireworks Celebration and Specialty Camo Jersey Auction for MSU ROTC. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, June 10, 6:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Monday, June 11, 11:10am - Day Baseball at Hammons Field and Discovery Center Science Experiments Educational Day. Gates open at 10:10am.

-Tuesday, June 12, 6:30pm - Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Wednesday, June 13, 6:30pm - Purina Woof Wednesday with dogs welcome at the ballpark and Wear Your Favorite Jersey Wednesday. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Thursday, June 14, 7:10pm - Ozark Fence Orange Camo Cap Giveaway (2,000), Klement's $1 Bratwurst Night, Pregame On-Field Happy Hour. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, June 15, 7:10pm - Friday Night Fireworks featuring The Name Game. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, June 16, 6:10pm - St. Louis Cardinals "YADI" Tumbler Giveaway (2,000). Gates open at 6:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.
Click here to view the full 2018 Promotional Schedule.