SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas did to Springfield on Friday what the Cardinals had done the previous night to the Naturals.
John Brontsema and Luis Villegas hit home runs to lead Northwest Arkansas to a comeback 7-6 victory over Springfield before a crowd of 4,637 at Arvest Ballpark. The outcome was a reversal from Thursday night when Springdale used two home runs to rally for a 5-3 victory over the Naturals.
Springfield (30-30) got to within 7-6 in the ninth inning and had two runners on base when reliever Jake Newberry struck out Grandsen Goetzman to end the game. It was the 10th save for Newberry, who pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief.
Northwest Arkansas (29-31) trailed 3-1 Friday before erupting for five runs in the sixth inning. The Naturals collected four hits in the inning, including a long home run by Brontsema over the visitors' bullpen in left field.
Nick Dini tied the game with a broken-bat single before Brontsema, the No. 9 hitter, launched a two-run homer to give the Naturals the lead. Villegas followed with a home run in the seventh to increase the lead to 7-3.
Right-hander Scott Blewett (3-4) pitched 7 2/3 innings to earn the victory over Anthony Shrew (2-2) for Springfield. Blewett allowed four runs on 10 hits and left after he was reached for a home run by Chris Chinea.
Shrew was in control until the fifth inning when Northwest Arkansas scored on an opposite-field single by Nicky Lopez. Shrew then left the game in the sixth when Northwest Arkansas scored five runs to take the lead.
Jecksson Flores had three hits for the Naturals, who were outhit 15-13 by Springfield. Jermey Martinez had three hits for the Cardinals.
SHORT HOPS
• Right-hander Michael Mariot was promoted to Triple A Omaha while left-hander Gabe Speier was assigned to Northwest Arkansas. Speier was part of a trade earlier this week that sent outfielder Jon Jay from Kansas City to Arizona.
• Springfield outfielder Lane Thomas was hit on the hand by a pitch while batting in the fifth inning. He stayed in the game and received a nice round of the applause from the crowd after he was looked at by a team trainer from the Cardinals.
On Deck:Emilo Ogando (2-4, 5.28 ERA) will take the mound for the Naturals in tonight's game at Arkansas beginning at 6:10 p.m. Ogando allowed three runs in four innings in his last appearance against Midland. The Travelers have not named a starter.
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Sports on 06/09/2018