SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas experienced a power surge to end the first half of Texas League play.
Lane Adams hit home runs in consecutive plate appearances Monday to lead the Naturals to an 8-0 victory over Arkansas before a crowd of 2,970 at Arvest Ballpark. Mark Threlkeld added a three-run home run for Northwest Arkansas, which led 6-0 after three innings.
How They Scored
Minor League Baseball
Northwest Arkansas 8, Arkansas 0
Arkansas^000^000^000^—^0^5^0
NWA^102^302^00X —^8^7^1
Sneed, Maronde (6), Johnson (8) and Bandy; Sulbaran, Culver (8), Arguelles (9) and Graterol. W - Sulberan (4-5) L - Sneed (4-6) HRs - Adams 2 (4), Threlkeld (7)).
Adams got the Naturals started with a leadoff home run against Arkansas left-hander Kramer Sneed (4-6). Adams struck again with a home run in the third inning following a walk to Justin Trapp. Threlkeld then increased the Naturals lead to 6-0 with a three-run home run in the fourth inning.
We hadn't had many extra-base hits for a while, so to score some runs on the (home runs) was big," said Vance Wilson, Northwest Arkansas manager.
Northwest Arkansas (25-45) finished the first half of the season in last place in the Texas League North, well behind Tulsa, the division winner. But the Naturals hope to use Monday's victory as a springboard today when they again host Arkansas to begin the second half of the season.
Arkansas (34-36) missed an opportunity to cut into Northwest Arkansas' lead after it loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning. But clutch pitching by J.C. Sulbaran and a standout defensive play by Cheslor Cuthbert kept the Travelers scoreless.
Sulbaran appeared in trouble after Jett Bandy hit a single to load the bases. Kyle Hudson flew to right field for the first out, and Eric Stamets struck out for the second out. Cuthbert then saved at least two runs with a diving catch of a line drive hit by Maikol Gonzalez at third base.
Justin Trapp then added a two-run single to give the Naturals an 8-0 lead in the sixth inning.
Short Hops
• Sulbaran pitched seven scoreless innings in one of his finest starts of the season for Northwest Arkansas. Sulbaran allowed four hits and struck out six with two walks. He also pitched seven innings during a 7-1 loss to Arkansas on May 5.
"J.C. was challenged at the beginning of the year to make some adjustments, and he's done that," Wilson said. "Now, all of a sudden, he's rolling to where he's one of our top pitchers."
• Arkansas leadoff hitter Maikol Gonzalez didn't last long after he reached on an error to begin Monday's game. He grabbed a big lead at first base but was picked off by right-hander Sulberan with the Travelers' No. 2 hitter at the plate.
Extra Bases: Max Ramirez also hit two home runs for Northwest Arkansas on June 14 during a 5-4 loss in 10 innings at Springfield. ... Northwest Arkansas also finished last in the North Division in 2012 and 2013. ... Monday's victory stopped a three-game losing streak for the Naturals, who were 0-5 at home against the Travelers this season. ... Northwest Arkansas will play two more games against Arkansas before continuing its home stand with four games against Tulsa beginning Thursday.
On Deck: The series continues at 7:05 p.m. today with left-hander Sam Selman (3-4, 3.55 ERA) going for the Naturals against right-hander Drew Rucinski (5-4, 2.71 ERA) for the Travelers.
Today's Promotions: Arvest Two for Tuesday presented by Arvest Bank
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 06/17/2014