The Northwest Arkansas Naturals scored four runs in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie on the way to a 7-5 victory Friday night over the Springfield Cardinals before an announced crowd of 5,658 at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
After Brett Eibner lead off the inning with a single against Springfield starter Jonathan Cornelius, Orlando Calixte followed with a double down the left-field line. Ray Navarro then hit a tworun double to left, putting the Naturals up 5-3. After a walk to Matt Fields, Heath Wyatt came into face Lane Adams, who singled to center to score Navarro, making it 6-3. Angel Franco’s bunt single loaded the bases. After Whit Merrifield grounded into a double play, Roman Hernandez’s infield single scored Adams to make it 7-3.
The game was tied going into the bottom of the fifth because James Ramsey led off the inning with a home run to left-center field off Naturals starter Aaron Brooks.
The Cardinals added a run in the sixth when Adam Melker led off with a home run to right field off Brooks to make it 7-4.
In the ninth, Naturals closer Santiago Garrido gave up a one-out, infield single to Chris Swauger. After Xavier Scruggs struck out looking,Cody Stanley reached on a fielding error by Calixte at shortstop. Garrido struck out Luis Mateo swinging to end the game.
Despite giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 13 hits in 6 innings, Brooks (4-3) picked up the victory for the Naturals, finishing with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks on 103 pitches.
Hernandez went 3 for 4 to lead the Naturals, who had 14 hits. Merrifield, Franco, Adams and Calixte each had two hits. Fields hit his 26th home run of the season in the fourth inning.
Cornelius (2-4) suffered the loss for the Cardinals by giving up 7 runs on 9 hits in 4 innings. The Cardinals had 14 hits but left 11 runners on base and were 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Ramsey and Melker, who had home runs, both went 3 for 4. Ruben Gotay, Vace Albitz and Swauger all had two hits.
Texas League standingsx-won first half FRIDAY’S GAMES Tulsa 2, Arkansas 0 NW Arkansas 7, Springfield 5 Frisco 11-2, Corpus Christi 5-3 Midland at San Antonio, (n)TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Springfield at NW Arkansas 6 p.m.
Frisco at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.
Midland at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.
Tulsa at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 21 on 07/20/2013