SPRINGDALE -- Arkansas took advantage of rehabbing pitcher Kris Medlen early, then held off Northwest Arkansas to end the first half of the Texas League season on a winning note.
Jabari Henry drove in three runs, including a long two-run home run in the third inning, to give the Travelers (30-40) a 4-0 lead en route to a 5-3 win over the Naturals on Monday night in Arvest Ballpark.
Arkansas manager Mark Parent said Henry is currently seeing the ball well, hitting his fifth home run in six games. Henry finished 2 for 4 and also drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk in the first against Medlen (0-1).
"I think the best thing he's doing is seeing the ball out of the pitcher's hand and seeing it off the bat," Parent said. "You can't hit what you don't see, and he's starting to see it. He's having success doing it.
"That's where he's at right now. He gets a lot of bat speed and when he hits'em he hits'em good."
Medlen, a veteran Major Leaguer making his second rehab start for Northwest Arkansas, struggled with location in the first inning, allowing three hits and walking two, but escaped when Arkansas' Eric Aguilera was called out for leaving too soon from third on a fly ball.
Henry then crushed a ball 433-feet for a two-run home run in the third for a 4-0 Arkansas lead.
Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said Medlen had trouble with location, but that's why he's here to work out the kinks.
"Obviously Medlen's working on stuff, he was up in the zone," Wilson said. "He looked a little better in the second inning. In the third inning, he was back up so he's working through some stuff. It is tough when you get down early, but again we had our chances.
You expect at some point the offense will break out of this. But it's on them. At some point as a player you've got to go up there and make an adjustment, and that's just not what we're doing right now."
The Naturals (29-41) left the bases loaded in the third and had the tying runs on with one out in the eighth, but could not come up with the key hit.
Alex Gordon, who is also on a rehab assignment from the Royals, went 2 for 3 with a solo home run, and Ryan O'Hearn went 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Andrew Daniel also went 3 for 5 and drove in a run, while Bo Way and Alex Yarbrough added two hits each for the Travelers.
SHORT HOPS
• Medlen pitched three innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on six hits. He struck out three and walked two, throwing 56 pitches, 35 for strikes.
• Righthander Alex Blackford (3-3) picked up the win, pitching in and out of trouble. He allowed just three runs in six innings of work, pitching around five walks. He struck out seven.
On Deck: The Naturals continue their series against Arkansas to begin second-half play. Northwest Arkansas sends Pedro Fernandez to the mound to take on Victor Alcantara.
Today's Promotion: It's Buck Night as brats are $1. Also groups of 20 or more can purchase advance reserved tickets for $4 each.
Sports on 06/21/2016