Naturals’ relievers keep lid on ‘Riders

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals bailed out a struggling Greg Billo and Cheslor Cuthbert’s home run capped three runs in the first three innings that held up on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.

Billo walked 5 batters and gave up 2 runs over the first 3 innings, but three relievers held Frisco without a run the rest of the way in a 3-2 victory at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

Frisco took a 1-0 lead in the first when Billo, making his first Class AA start, issued four consecutive two out walks, the last of which went to Trever Adams that scored Jordan Brown. In the second, Billo walked another and the RoughRiders later tied it when Jake Skole scored on a ground out.

But, Hassan Pena, Cody Fassold and Malcolm Culver held Frisco to two hits the rest of the game, and Culver earned his first save.

Northwest Arkansas took a 2-1 lead in the second when Jared Schlehuber and Mark Threlkeld hit consecutive singles and were moved to second and third on a bunt by Angel Franco, and Parker Morin drove both in with a single.

Cuthbert’s first home run of the season then made it 3-1, and the Naturals were held to four hits the rest of the game.

But the lead held thanks to Pena, who pitched three hitless innings while striking out two; Fassold, who allowed one hit in two innings; and Culver, who allowed a lead off single and the tying run to get to second base, but retired the last three batters he faced.