Cardinals pound Naturals, 10-2, to close road trip

SPRINGDALE, Ar. -- The Springfield Cardinals (24-39) blew past the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (28-34) with a 10-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Arvest Ballpark.

DECISIONS:
W: RHP Angel Rondon (1-0)
L: RHP Ofreidy Gomez (3-4)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
-For the fourth straight game in Northwest Arkansas, the Cardinals struck first in the top of the first. CF Randy Arozarena worked a two-out walk, before racing all the way home when a liner to center by 3B Yariel Gonzalez got by CF Nick Heath.

-RF Johan Mieses doubled the Cardinals lead to 2-0 with a solo home run to lead off the top of the second.

-After the Naturals got on the board on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third, a two-out RBI double from 1B Zach Kirtley in the top of the fourth opened the lead back to two runs, 3-1.

-Arozarena padded the lead in the top of the seventh with a two-out, two-run double to make it 5-1.

-The Naturals got one run back in the bottom of the eighth, but the Cardinals blew the game open with five runs in the top of the ninth, featuring RBI singles from Arozarena and 3B Yariel Gonzalez, a two-run single by RF Johan Mieses and an RBI double by C Brian O'Keefe to make it 10-2.

NOTABLES:
-1B Zach Kirtley went 3x5 with three doubles, one double shy from matching Springfield's all-time single game record set by OF Jeremy Hazelbaker in 2015.

-CF Randy Arozarena went 3x4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs.

-RF Johan Mieses went 3x4 with a solo home run, a double and three RBIs.

-RHP Angel Rondon notched his first Double-A win with 5.0 one-run frames, striking out seven with only four hits and two walks.

WHAT'S ON DECK:
-Springfield then returns home for a six-game homestand from Tuesday, June 11 - Sunday, June 16. Check out all the upcoming fun and get your tickets today at SpringfieldCardinals.com/promotions.