Springfield, MO – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals struck for three runs in the top of the 10th to claim the 4-1 win in 10 innings against the Springfield Cardinals before 3,013 fans at Hammons Field on Thursday night.
After a four-hit performance with a home run on Wednesday, CF Harrison Bader picked up right where he left off a day ago, cracking the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. Facing LHP Eric Skoglund with one down, Bader pulled his fourth home run of the year, a solo shot, into the Naturals (8-12) bullpen in left field, lifting the Cardinals (11-9) into the 1-0 lead.
RHP Corey Baker kept the narrow lead intact through his 5.2 scoreless innings on the night, striking out seven with only two hits and two walks. Baker extended his scoreless innings streak to 18.0 straight frames without a run, going back to the third inning of his first start of the year on April 11 in Corpus Christi.
With one on and two down in the top of the sixth, LHP Corey Littrell retired the final out in the scoreless sixth, but the Naturals struck against the southpaw in the seventh. Leading off the frame, LF Hunter Dozier skied a solo shot to left field, tying the game at 1-1. It marked the first run allowed all season by Littrell after he had not allowed a single tally through his first seven games and 8.2 innings.
RHP Josh Lucas kept the tie intact with a pair of scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, but the Naturals rallied in the top of the 10th. With RHP Chris Thomas (L, 1-1) on the mound, 3B Mauricio Ramos singled to start the inning. Ramos was replaced with pinch-runner OF Logan Moon, who moved to second on a base knock from 1B Frank Schwindel. Thomas dug in and retired the next two batters, before issuing a two-out walk to 2B Ramon Torres to load the bases. RF Orlando Calixte then sliced an RBI single to right field that was bobbled by RF Collin Radack, with the fielding miscue leading to all three runners scoring on the play. Thomas responded with a strikeout of SS Raul Mondesi to end the inning, but the Naturals held a 4-1 lead.
Northwest Arkansas RHP Yender Caramo (S, 1) came on for the bottom of the 10th and navigated through the final frame in scoreless fashion, closing the 4-1 win for the Naturals in 10 innings. RHP Kevin McCarthy (W, 1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth for the Naturals, registering the win.
Click here for the complete box score from Thursday's game.
