Wellman Collects 1,200th Career Win in Road Trip Finale

Springdale, Arkansas - Sod Poodles manager Phillip Wellman secured the 1,200th regular season win of his managerial career as the Sod Poodles beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in their series finale on Tuesday night at Arvest Ballpark, 3-2. 

Wellman is currently in his 20th season as a Minor League Baseball manager and sits 13th among active MiLB managers in career wins. 
With the victory, the Sod Poodles secured a series win in their four-game set at Northwest Arkansas and a 5-2 mark on the seven-game road trip. The Sod Poodles finished July with an 18-10 record during the month.
Right-hander Ronald Bolaños dazzled in seven scoreless innings, recording seven strikeouts and allowing just five hits. Bolaños picked up his fifth win at Double-A. 
The Sod Poodles jumped out to an early lead in the first inning against Northwest Arkansas starter J.C. Cloney. Buddy Reed drew a walk to begin the ballgame while Owen Miller later drove an RBI triple to the left centerfield gap to give Amarillo a 1-0 edge. 
Amarillo extended the advantage to 3-0 in the third with a run scoring on a fielder's choice and RBI infield single with the bases loaded from Kyle Overstreet.
The score stayed 3-0 until the eighth, when the Naturals collected two runs off Amarillo reliever Evan Miller. The runs came on singles from Angelo Castellano and Kevin Merrell.
With the Sod Poodles leading 3-2, righty David Bednar entered for the ninth. Bednar, who was pitching on back-to-back days for the first time this season, retired the side in order with two strikeouts to collect his eighth save of the season. 
The Sod Poodles return home to HODGETOWN on Thursday night for the start of a four-game series against the Frisco RoughRiders. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Amarillo sends righty Kyle Lloyd to the mound while Frisco counters with right-hander Tyler Phillips.