Naturals take care of Cards

Northwest Arkansas Naturals shortstop Whit Merrifield (right) is congratulated by Manager Vance Wilson after hitting a two-run home run Wednesday against the Springfield Cardinals.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals shortstop Whit Merrifield (right) is congratulated by Manager Vance Wilson after hitting a two-run home run Wednesday against the Springfield Cardinals.

Sam Selman showed off his stingy side Wednesday afternoon.

The Northwest Arkansas left-hander gave up a run and allowed only two hits over five innings as the Naturals held off the Springfield Cardinals 6-5 in front of an announced crowd of 7,756 on Kids Day at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

Selman, the No. 12 prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization according to Baseball America, struck out four and walked only two batters while picking up his first victory in Class AA. The former Vanderbilt pitcher improved to 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 3 starts since being called up April 11.

Springfield (9-10) gave Selman plenty of help as the Cardinals committed three errors that helped the Naturals win back-to-back games for only the second time this season.

The first error came in the first inning and allowed the Naturals (6-13) to take a lead they wouldn’t give up.

Cheslor Cuthbert hit a ground ball to shortstop that looked like a double-play opportunity, but Springfield’s Luis Mateo made a poor throw to second base that allowed Lane Adams to score from second and Jorge Bonifacioto advance to third. Jared Schlehuber followed with a single to left field to drive in Bonifacio for a 2-0 lead.

“We talk about when a team gives you extra outs, how you take advantage,” Naturals Manager Vance Wilson said. “It’s kind of that football mentality of the next man up, and the next man has to do the job. Again, we harp on we need to compete to win, and the guys did it.”

Springfield cut it to 2-1 in the fourth inning on Cody Stanley’s sacrifice fly that drove in Jonathan Rodriguez, but two more errors by the Cardinals in the fifth inning helped the Naturals build their lead to 6-1.

Parker Morin reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning, and Whit Merrifield followed two batters later with a home run to left field to give the Naturals a 4-1 lead.

Adams walked, stole second and then stole third and came home when Stanley’s throw sailed into left field. A single by Schlehuber drove in Bonifacio, who had walked, for a 6-1 lead.

Noel Arguelles came on in the sixth inning in relief of Selman, and the Cardinals wasted no time getting to him as Aledmys Diaz greeted the left-hander with a home run to left field to cut the lead to 6-2.

Springfield added three runs off Arguelles in the seventh to make things interesting. Greg Miclat scored on a wild pitch by Arguelles, Diaz drove in another with a single to left field, and Jonathan Rodriguez singled off reliever Andrew Triggs for Springfield’s final run.

Triggs didn’t allow another hit over the final two innings and picked up his first save of the season.

Starter Sam Gaviglio (1-3) took the loss, allowing all 6 runs - 2 earned - off 5 hits over 5 innings with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks.

Schlehuber went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI singles for Northwest Arkansas and was the only Naturals player with more than one hit. Adams finished the game with three stolen bases.

Rodriguez was 3 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored for Springfield.

Today’s game NW ARKANSAS VS. SPRINGFIELD WHEN 7:05 p.m.

WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale RADIO KQSM-FM, 92.1, in NW Arkansas WEBSITE nwanaturals.com PITCHERS Naturals: Andy Ferguson (RHP, 1-0, 5.65 ERA). Cardinals: Jonathan Cornelius (LHP, 1-2, 5.94).

TICKETS $12 super premium, $10 premium, $8 reserved, $7 grass berm PROMOTIONS Buck Night on Thirsty Thursday. Select concession items will be sold for $1, including mozzarella sticks, peanuts and small Coca-Cola fountain drinks. Select 16-ounce drafts will be sold for $2.

THE WEEK AHEAD

TODAY Springfield, 7:05 p.m.

FRIDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.

SATURDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.

SUNDAY Tulsa, 2:05 p.m.

MONDAY Tulsa, 11:05 a.m.

TUESDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY at Springfield, 11:10 a.m.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Arkansas 1, Tulsa 0 NW Arkansas 6, Springfield 5 San Antonio 5, Frisco 3 Midland 3, Corpus Christi 1

TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Springfield at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m. San Antonio at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

Tulsa at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.

Midland at Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m.

Sports, Pages 17 on 04/24/2014

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