Springdale, AR – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals slipped by the Springfield Cardinals, 4-2, before 3,634 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday night. The Cardinals remain tied with the Tulsa Drillers for 1st place in the North Division Second Half Standings with just 11 games remaining.
The Naturals (24-35, 63-66) cracked the scoreless tie with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the third against RHP Chris Ellis (L, 5-8). With two on and one away, DH Samir Duenez bounced an RBI single through the middle. 1B Ryan O’Hearn followed with a three-run shot to left field, opening the early advantage to 4-0.
Naturals LHP Emilio Ogando (W, 9-9) kept the Cardinals (38-21, 73-56) hitless through his first 4.2 innings, before 3B Jacob Wilson came to bat in the fifth. With two away, Wilson broke up the no-hit bid and got the Cardinals on the board with a solo shot to left field, his 15th homer of the year, cutting the Cardinals deficit to 4-1.
Ellis kept the Cardinals within striking distance with scoreless work through the remainder of his 6.0-inning outing, striking out eight batters along the way.
Springfield then swung one run closer in the top of the eighth against RHP Jason Adam. C Andrew Knizner led off with a base hit to right field, his second single of the night. One out later, Knizner moved to second on a passed ball before advancing to third on a groundout. SS Tommy Edman came through with an RBI single scorched up the middle, plating Knizner and bringing Springfield within two runs of tying it, 4-2.
Northwest Arkansas, however, received a scoreless final frame from RHP Andrew Edwards (S, 4) in the top of the ninth, and the Naturals hung on for the 4-2 win.
