SPRINGFIELD, MO- Sharlon Schoop delivered a spark in his first game since April 24, leading the Naturals to a 4-3 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Thursday night at Hammons Field.

The Naturals got a good start from Tim Melville (2-1) on the mound. Melville went six innings allowing five hits and three runs, walking three and fanning four. The six innings of work set a new Double-A career high for Melville.

The Naturals (13-14) got on the board first in the top of the second inning when Schoop doubled home Carlo Testa to make it 1-0. The lead was short lived as the Cardinals (10-17) got a home run from Xavier Scruggs in the bottom half of the frame.

The Cardinals offense would take the lead by adding a run in the third inning on a Kyle Conley sacrifice fly to make it 2-1. They tacked on another run in the fourth inning when catcher Audry Perez connected for his first home run of the season to make it 3-1.

The Naturals two top hitting prospects brought them back even in the sixth inning. Shortstop Christian Colon ripped a one-out double and would later score on the seventh home run of the season by Wil Myers. Myers drove an 0-2 pitch from the Cardinals John Gast over the left center field fence to tie the contest.

Schoop came through again in the seventh inning with a solo home run off of Cardinals reliever Jesse Simpson (1-1) to give the Naturals the lead for good.

Brendan Lafferty and Kendal Volz worked three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Naturals. Volz picked up his second save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.

The two teams will wrap up their four game series on Friday night at 7:08 P.M. The Naturals will send left-hander Chris Dwyer (1-3, 5.64) to the hill against the Cardinals Trevor Rosenthal (1-3, 3.86). The game can be heard on NewsTalk 1030 KFAY.