Kyle Zimmer didn’t need much help Thursday night.
Northwest Arkansas’ starting pitcher gave up only 3 hits and struck out 12 in 6 innings as the Naturals shut out the Springfield Cardinals 6-0 in front of 5,257 at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo.
Jon Keck and Santiago Garrido combined for three innings of hitless relief as the Naturals posted their third shutout of the season.
Northwest Arkansas’ offense provided Zimmer (2-0) with more than enough run support, scoring single runs in the first two innings and adding two more in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Brett Eibner led off the game with his eighth triple of the season and came home on Orlando Calixte’s single for a 1-0 lead. Eibner added a tworun home run in the ninth to complete the Naturals’ scoring. It was Eibner’s 16th homerun of the season.
Northwest Arkansas (45-59) made it 2-0 in the second inning. Lane Adams led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch by Cardinals starter Seth Blair. Adams scored two batters later on Angel Franco’s sacrifice fly to center field.
Blair (3-8) settled down after that and didn’t give up another run before leaving the game in the seventh. He struck out 11, giving up 6 hitsand walking 2.
Kevin Thomas came on in relief for the Cardinals (49-53) in the eighth and gave up two runs. Calixte doubled to open the inning and moved to third on Brian Fletcher’s single to center. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Calixte to score, and two wild pitches by Thomas brought in Fletcher to make it 4-2.
Eibner finished 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Calixte also went 2 for 5 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.
At a glance NW ARKANSAS AT SPRINGFIELD WHEN 7:09 p.m. Central today WHERE Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo. RADIO KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Fayetteville WEBSITE nwanaturals.com PITCHERS Naturals: Brooks Pounders (RHP, 4-5, 4.21 ERA); Cardinals: Zach Petrick (RHP, 1-0, 3.09) SHORT HOPS The Naturals activated right-handed pitcher Sam Runion from the seven-day disabled list Friday and placed right-hander Noel Arguelles on the seven-day disabled list retroactive to July 24.
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY at Springfield, 7:09 p.m.
SATURDAY at Springfield, 6:09 p.m.
SUNDAY at Springfield, 6:09 p.m.
MONDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
TUESDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
WEDNESDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
THURSDAY Tulsa, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/26/2013