The Springfield Cardinals overcame a 4-0 deficit to beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 9-6 on Monday night at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo.
Ruben Gotay broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with an RBI double and Xavier Scruggs hit a two-run home run off Naturals reliever Brooks Pounders (0-1).
Cardinals closer Michael Blazek retired the side in the top of the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Northwest Arkansas took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first against Springfield starter Scott McGregor. Rey Navarro and Mitch Canham hit consecutive RBI doubles and two batters later, Manuel Pina recorded the Naturals’ third run-scoring double of the inning for a 3-0 advantage. Matt Fields’ RBI single made it 4-0.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-3 and took a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth on Thomas Pham’s double and Scruggs’ single.
The Naturals tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh when Fields hit a two-run single to left field that scored Canham and Yem Prades.
Jason Adam started for the Naturals, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits in 42/3 innings. He struck out seven, but walked three.
Ramon Delgado (1-0) earned the victory in relief of McGregor, pitching 12/3 scoreless innings.
Fields, Navarro, Pina and Orlando Calixte each had two hitsfor Northwest Arkansas, which totaled 12 hits. Former Arkansas Razorback Brett Eibner finished 0 for 5 as his average dropped to .200.
Sports, Pages 17 on 04/23/2013