South All-Stars Roll

SPRINGDALE - Corpus Christi outfielder George Springer entered the 77th Texas League All-Star Game tied for the home run lead at 19.

Springer had only one home run during the Home Run Derby before the game, but the Houston Astros’ prospect delivered when it counted most. Springer hit a solo home run and a two-run shot to help the South All-Stars defeat the North All-Stars, 6-0, before 6,265 in Arvest Ballpark.

Springer, who was promoted to the Astros Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City on Sunday, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Springer said he wasn’t disappointed in his effort in the Home Run Derby.

“It’s just one of those things where you relax and go play,” he said. “The first one was a fastball that just stayed away. I didn’t try to do too much with it. The second was a slider and I was able to get some good results out of it.”

Springer’s solo home run in the sixth inning gave his team a 3-0 lead as the South won the annual game for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. He added a two-run home run in the eighth to up the South lead to 6-0. Frisco outfielder Brett Nicholas hit a solo home run in the seventh for a 4-0 lead.

“Springer is the best player in the league,” said Northwest Arkansas manager Brian Poldberg, who manged the North squad. “He is a plus-outfielder, a plus-hitter, a plus-runner, a plus-arm. He has plus-tools across the board.”

North starter Tyler Matzek had five strikeouts the first two innings, but a double by San Antonio’s Jake Blackwood and his own error allowed the South to take a early 2-0 lead.

Blackwood started the second with a double but Matzek came back with two straight strikeouts and he appeared to be out of the inning when Rene Garcia hit a bouncer back to the mound. But Matzek’s lob throw to first sailed over C.J. Cron’s head allowing Blackwood to score.

Frisco’s Odubel Herrera then hit a hard single to left that scored Garica as the South took a 2-0 lead on two unearned runs.

Santiago Garrido, the only Naturals pitcher in the game, retired the South in order in the third inning in his only work in the game. Naturals outfielder Roman Hernandez was robbed of an extra base hit in the fifth when Springer made a running catch in deep center before slamming into the outfield wall.

Naturals shortstop Orlando Calixte had one of the North’s seven hits with a single in the fifth inning. The North left six runners stranded and they were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

“They were healthy, and they had good pitching,” Poldberg said.

The Naturals return to action tonight when they begin a six-game homestand. Midland will visit Arvest Ballpark for three games while Frisco follows for three games. Northwest Arkansas is 3-3 in the second half of the Texas League season.