possession of the ball, causing Prades to stay at third. But Pina broke for third on contact and both runners ended up on third base. Nicholas came over and tagged Pina for the second out, and Alex McClure flew out to end the threat.
“Manny got a little excited,” Poldberg said. “We should have had the bases loaded with one out.
“The guys are trying hard and that’s all we can ask for.”
Frisco (2-2) took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on singles from Hanser Alberto and Alex Buchholz and a double down the left-field line from Nicholas.
A lead-off double from Rey Navarro and an RBI single from Prades pulled Northwest Arkansas within 2-1 in the fourth. The Naturals tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth when Whit Merrifield doubled and scored two outs later on a single from Angel Franco.
Frisco regained the lead in the sixth after a leadoff triple from Odubel Herrera and an RBI sacrifice fly from Alberto.
Franco was 2 for 3 and Prades 2 for 4 for Northwest Arkansas. Nicholas was 3 for 4 for the RoughRiders.
Starting pitcher Yordano Ventura worked 5 innings, giving up 2 run and 5 hits with no walks and 5 strikeouts while having his fastball clocked at around 100 mph in the early innings. He was not involved in the decision.
“Ventura is a guy who has all the stuff to pitch in the big leagues,” Poldberg said. “ It’sjust a matter of him continuing to get control of his offspeed pitch and command of his fastball. He did a great job of that today.”At a glance NORTHWEST ARKANSAS VS. FRISCO WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale RADIO KQSM-FM, 92.1, Fayetteville INTERNET www.nwanaturals.com PITCHING MATCHUP Frisco: Carlos Pimentel (RHP, 8-3, 2.55 ERA last season).
Northwest Arkansas: J.C. Sulbaran (RHP 7-11, 4.75 ERA last season) PROMOTIONS Fans who bring their Ozarks Electric bill or Co-op Connections Card to THE Arvest Ballpark ticket office can get buy one, get one free tickets to today’s game. … Hot dogs will be sold for $1 … Bingo will be played during the game.
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY vs. Frisco 7 p.m.
TUESDAY vs. Frisco 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Off THURSDAY at Midland 7 p.m.
FRIDAY at Midland 7 p.m.
SATURDAY at Midland 7 p.m.
SUNDAY at Frisco 4 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Arkansas 4, Frisco 3, 10 innings Midland 5, Northwest Arkansas 1 Corpus Christi 5, Springfield 2 San Antonio 7, Tulsa 1 SUNDAY’S GAMES Midland 4, Arkansas 1 Frisco 3, Northwest Arkansas 2 Corpus Christi 3, Tulsa 2 Springfield 2, San Antonio 1 TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Frisco at Northwest Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Tulsa at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.
Springfield at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.
Midland at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
TUESDAY’S GAMES Frisco at Northwest Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Springfield at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.
Tulsa at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.
Midland at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 19 on 04/08/2013