SPRINGDALE — Northwest Arkansas used some home run power to gain a split of a doubleheader Saturday.
Eric Hosmer, Jeff Howell, and Jamie Romak hit home runs as Northwest Arkansas defeated Springfield 6-2 before 5,174 fans at Arvest Ballpark. Springfield won the first game 15-2 after piling up nine runs in the first two innings.
Northwest Arkansas’ home runs in the second game came after Matt Carpenter hit a home run to give Springfield a 1-0 lead. Hosmer put the Naturals ahead for good with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first.
Howell followed with a two-run home run in the fourth inning and Romak connected in the fifth to increase the Naturals’ lead to 6-1. Springfield (51-47) loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but the Cardinals managed only one run after a double play and strikeout by Tommy Pham.
Aaron Crow (7-6) allowed 3 hits and 5 walks in 6 innings to earn the victory for Northwest Arkansas (61-37) . His steady performance was much needed after Naturals’ pitchers allowed 36 runs in the previous three games.
“Aaron gave up a home run in the first inning then settled down,” Northwest Arkansas Manager Brian Poldberg said. “The first game was one you could’ve let carry over but the guys bounced back.”
Andrew Brown and Tony Cruz hit home runs in Saturday’s opener for the Cardinals, who outhit the Naturals 19-7.
Northwest Arkansas starter Chris Dwyer faced seven batters and left with a back injury in the first inning. Dwyer was charged with 4 runs while allowing 2 hits and 4 walks.
Springfield continued its surge against reliever Chris Chavez, who allowed 9 hits and 7 runs in 3 innings. Tony Cruz made it 15-1 for the Cardinals when he hit a three-run home run against Ben Swaggerty, who allowed 8 hits and 4 runs in 3 1 /3 innings.
The lopsided defeat came after Northwest Arkansas blew a six-run lead and lost 9-8 to Springfield on Friday.
“(Dwyer’s) back stiffened up, and we had to get him out of there,” Poldberg said. “We’re short on pitching anyway and to lose your starter in the first inning of the first game didn’t help a whole lot.”
Dwyer’s immediately raninto trouble when he walked the first two batters he faced. Jose Garcia was thrown out trying to steal before Brown hit a home run to put Springfield ahead 2-0. Chris Swauger followed with a tworun single for the Cardinals, who sent 10 men to the plate.
Springfield continued its surge with five runs on five hits in the second inning. Cruz then blasted a three-run home run in the sixth to give the Cardinals a 15-1 lead.
Steve Hill finished with four hits in the first game to lead Springfield.
Naturals at a glance WHO Springfield at NW Arkansas WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale PITCHERS Springfield: Hearne (1-1, 6.14); Northwest Arkansas Caldera (3-0, 3.38) RADIO KQSM-FM, 92.1 in NW Arkansas WEB SITE nwanaturals.com SHORT HOPS Northwest Arkansas placed outfielder Shane Costa on the seven-day disabled list Saturday with a heel injury and activated right-hander reliever Chris Chavez. Costa made his Naturals’ debut on Friday and went 0 for 3. Chavez is 2-0 with 6.15 ERA in 18 games with the Naturals this season.
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY vs. Springfield, 6 p.m.
MONDAY vs. Springfield, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
THURSDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 32 on 07/25/2010