Andrew Buchbinder (Springfield Cardinals Media Relations) Springdale, AR – The Springfield Cardinals struck in the top of the ninth, but the Northwest Arkansas Naturals escaped with a 3-2 win before 5,991 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Saturday evening.
The Naturals (14-22, 53-53) opened an early advantage in the bottom of the first against RHP Chris Ellis (L, 2-6). CF Donnie Dewees worked a leadoff walk, before going to third base on a single from SS Nicky Lopez. Dewees then came home on an RBI groundout by 3B Mauricio Ramos, opening the 1-0 lead for the Naturals.
Ramos and the Naturals struck again in the bottom of the third. Dewees started the stanza with a single, moving to second on a groundout from Lopez. He then darted in from second base on an RBI single from Ramos, doubling the Naturals lead to 2-0.
Naturals LHP Emilio Ogando (W, 7-7) kept the Cardinals (23-13, 58-48) bats in check with scoreless work through his first six innings, but Springfield broke through in the top of the seventh. LF Randy Arozarena started the frame with a single to left field, winding up at second base when the ball bounced by LF Alfredo Escalera for a fielding error on the play. A balk charged to Ogando moved Arozarena to third base, before DH Anthony Garcia ripped an RBI single through the middle of the infield, plating Arozarena to shave the Cardinals deficit in half, 2-1.
Ellis finished his outing with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, closing his start with four straight scoreless frames and allowing just the two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six.
However, Northwest Arkansas added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth against the bullpen. LHP Corey Littrell retired Dewees to start the inning, but then issued three consecutive walks to load the bases with one away. RHP Andrew Morales took over on the mound, but hit C Nick Dini to force in a run and increase the Naturals lead to two tallies. Morales, though, dug in with a strikeout and a groundout to get the Cardinals out of the inning with no further damage and only trailing, 3-1.
Springfield came out swinging with a rally attempt in the top of the ninth against LHP Tim Hill (S, 3). 1B John Nogowski opened the inning with a leadoff single to right field. Arozarena then grounded the ball to third base, but 3B Mauricio Ramos threw the ball past first base with the throwing error allowing Nogowski to get to third and Arozarena to reach second with no outs. After a groundout, 3B Jacob Wilson lasered an RBI single to right field. Nogowski scored on the base hit, but Arozarena was thrown out at the plate by RF Anderson Miller, keeping the Naturals ahead by one run with two outs. Hill then got C Andrew Knizner on a game-ending strikeout and the Naturals escaped the jam with a 3-2 win.
