SPRINGDALE -- The middle innings were not good for Northwest Arkansas on Thursday.
Springfield bunched together nine runs in three innings to defeat the Naturals 11-2 before 3,910 fans at Arvest Ballpark. Patrick Wisdom had a three-run home run to lead the Cardinals, who outhit Northwest Arkansas 13-9.
How They Scored
Minor League Baseball
Springfield 11,
Northwest Arkansas 2
Springfield^010^432^010^—^11^13^0
Northwest Arkansas^100^001^000^—^2^9^3
Blair, Sherriff (7), Shaban (9) and Tartamella; Melville, Arguelles (5), Murray (6), Fassold (9) and Morin. WP - Blair. LP- Melville. HRs- Wisdom (3).
Wisdom's shot to left field came in the fourth inning, when Springfield (17-16) scored four runs against Tim Melville. The Cardinals continued their surge against relievers Noel Aruguelles and Matt Murray to lead 10-2 after six innings.
Northwest Arkansas (11-22) managed nine hits and the Naturals committed errors.
Northwest Arkansas took a 1-0 lead when Justin Trapp led off with a single, advanced to second after a walk, and scored on a single by Mark Threlkeld. Springfield answered with 10 consecutive runs before the Naturals scored again in the sixth inning on a double by Threlkeld.
"We're not a good team right now," Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said. "We're not making good pitches when we need them and our pitch sequence is questionable. Defensively, when you don't make plays, a good team like Springfield will take advantage of it."
Short Hops
• Two South Carolina natives had a good start on Thursday. Justin Trapp led off with a single for Northwest Arkansas seconds before Jadeveon Clowney was selected No. 1 by the Houston Texans in the NFL draft. Clowney is a native of Rock Hill, S. C., which is about one hour north of Columbia, S.C. where he played football for the Gamecocks. Trapp, a Columbia native, turned down an offer to play football and baseball at Coastal Carolina in 2009 to sign with the Royals.
• Springfield catcher Travis Tartamella headed toward first base on consecutive pitches in the second inning, acting as if he had drawn a walk. But Tartamella was called back both times called out a strikes.
He then had to take his position at catcher in front of Ramon Hernandez, the umpire who called him out.
• Northwest Arkansas completed an unusual double play that began when third baseman Jared Schlehuber fielded a grounder and threw to first base for the out. Schlehuber received a return throw after a Springfield runner tried to advanced from second to third. James Ramsey was caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out by Naturals pitcher Tim Melville.
Springfield leadoff batter Mike O'Neill reached base twice in the fourth inning when the Cardinals scored four runs. He walked and scored before contributing a run-scoring single to give Springfield a 5-1 lead.
Extra Bases: Northwest Arkansas announced that tickets to last night's game can be exchanged for equal value on Wednesday, May 21 when the Naturals host San Antonio. The moved was made because many fans likely stayed away because of the rain that fell for much of Thursday in Northwest Arkansas. Tickets can be exchanged any time during business hours at Arvest Ballpark.
Royals Pipeline: Second baseman Jack Lopez went 3 for 4 with a double but Wilmington still lost 9-2 to Lynchburg in Class A Advanced League action Thursday night. The loss dropped Wilmington to 14-17 on the season.
On Deck: The series continues today at 7:35 p.m. with left-hander Sam Selman (1-2, 3.04 ERA) going against right-hander Sam Gaviglio (1-4, 6.37) for Springfield.
Friday's Promotion: Faith and family night and postgame fireworks.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 05/09/2014