Gambrell K's Nine as Nats Earn Split

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- Grant Gambrell (1-2) threw five scoreless innings, tying a career-high with nine strikeouts in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (21-30, 50-68)` 7-2 win over the San Antonio Missions (23-28, 54-66) at Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. The Naturals return home for a six-game series with the Texas Rangers AA affiliate, the Frisco RoughRiders.

The Naturals plated the game's first run in the opening frame. Colton Becker was hit by a pitch with one out and went to second when Sam Kulasingam grounded out to first. Spencer Nivens singled to left, scoring Becker to make it a 1-0 game.

Gambrell shut down the Missions lineup, allowing one baserunner over his first four innings. The Nats picked up another run in the fourth with a pair of walks, an error, and a wild pitch to make it 2-0. They scored again in the fifth when Kulasingam grounded out to first, bringing in Canyon Brown.

Jorge Alfaro hit a two-run blast in the eighth, his 13th homer of the year, to extend the lead to 5-0, and Nivens singled home two more in the ninth to give NWA a 7-0 lead. Albert Fabian hit a two-run homer in the ninth, but the Naturals held on for a 7-2 win, earning a series split in the final game of the 12-game road trip.

The Naturals finish their road trip 6-6 over the 12 games and return to Arvest Ballpark for the penultimate homestand of the 2026 season. Fans can get their tickets 24/7 at www.NWANaturals.com. The game will also be broadcast with the "Voice of the Naturals", Shawn Murnin, on the call. It's available for free on Bally Live Sports and on MLB.TV and the MiLB App with a subscription. Fans can also catch the radio broadcast for free on the MiLB App and www.NWANaturals.com.