SPRINGDALE — The Northwest Arkansas Naturals know how to close a series.
The Naturals salvaged a split of their four-game series against Springfield, winning the final two games and capping with a 9-4 win on Sunday night before a nice crowd of 4,846.
The win improved Northwest Arkansas (14-22, 54-52) to 21 wins in the final game of 29 series this season.
“We’re doing a good job,” Northwest Arkansas Manager Vance Wilson said. “We need to get back focused on these four-game series and get at least one or two wins in the first couple of games. With the huge walk-off win (Saturday), how do you use that momentum. Do you use it or do you become complacent with it. They used it.”
In familiar fashion, the Naturals, who lead the Texas League in homers, did it via the long ball again on Sunday.
Ramon Torres, who’s been up with the Naturals less than a month, belted his first home run as a Natural to lead off the fifth inning. His blast landed well beyond the bullpen down the leftfield line and landed in the bounce-around area.
Hunter Dozier lined a three-run homer above the Bud Light bullpen picnic area in dead left field shortly after Torres’ homer. Raul Mondesi had singled and Jorge Bonifacio had walked before Dozier’s homer that extended the Naturals’ lead to 8-2.
Raul Mondesi added a pair of stolen bases for the Naturals, who are third in the Texas League in that department.
“That’s really what we did in the first half,” Wilson said. “Some of these younger guys are starting to hit homers, especially like Torres. Dozier is coming on. That combination of speed and power in the first half, some of the guys are stepping up, which is what we need.”
Northwest Arkansas also scored four runs in the third inning, wiping out a 2-0 deficit.
Dozier singled home a run, and catcher Zane Evans doubled home two runs before Frank Schwindel followed with another run-scoring double.
Evans’ double off the wall down the rightfield line gave Northwest Arkansas catchers a cycle for the weekend. Saturday, Parker Morin had a single, triple and homer in the walk-off win.
“That’s pretty cool,” Wilson said. “Obviously, Parker’s been hot. It was a good night for Zane. He’s been scuffling, working on some things. He’s had a tight back the last couple of days. To see him go up there and get a couple of hits, and contribute, is huge for any player but especially when he didn’t feel good.”
Northwest Arkansas rapped out nine hits, which has also been a familiar theme for the Naturals against Springfield this season. The Naturals were hitting .298 against Springfield before Sunday. Naturals’ pitchers Kyle Zimmer and Jonathan Dziedzic stifled Springfield from the third inning through the seventh inning, retiring 14 straight, before Springfield (19-18, 49-58) scored two in the eighth.
“That was huge because our pitching is down,” Wilson said. “They’ve been abused a little bit the last 10 days. We were trying to get through a piggy-back situation with Zimmer and Dziedzic. To be able to do that and not have to use a third pitcher and the consistency of being able to retire to retire those guys and not have long innings was big for our whole staff.”
SHORT HOPS
• The Naturals extended their Texas League lead to 106 home runs with two more on Sunday.
• Lane Adams’ 15-game hitting streak came to an end on Sunday, but he walked twice and had just two official atbats.
• The Naturals are 9-3 against Springfield at Arvest Ballpark.
Extra Bases: Naturals slugged two home runs on Sunday and stole two bases. … Northwest Arkansas catchers battered Springfield the last two games with Zane Evans knocking in two runs with a double on Sunday and adding a single after Parker Morin had a single, triple and homer on Saturday. ... Dozier’s homer was his sixth against Springfield this season.
On Deck: Northwest Arkansas hosts the Arkansas Travelers today to open a three-game home series. Luke Farrell (1-3, 3.71) will take the mound for the Naturals. Farrell has allowed 12 earned runs in 6-2/3 innings in three appearances against Arkansas this season. Michael Brady (5-5, 3.69) will be the starting pitcher for Arkansas.
Today’s Promotion: On Monday, Ozarks Electric Cooperative customers receive a free premium or reserved ticket with one purchased at the Arvest Ballpark Box Office. Tyson Foods is also sponsoring $1 hot dogs at concession stands. Indigo Sky Casino is sponsoring baseball bingo and prizes.