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MLB

SERIES PREVIEW: NORTHWEST ARKANSAS v. SPRINGFIELD

By Naturals PR Department
April 29, 2014

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (8-16) head north to take on the current leaders of the Texas League North Division, the Springfield Cardinals (13-11), with aspirations of gaining ground beginning a four-game series tonight with a 7:10 p.m. first pitch from Hammons Field. The two clubs met at Arvest Ballpark for a four-game set stretching from April 21 until April 24 with the Naturals finding wins in the middle two contests.  

The Naturals have performed well away from Arvest Ballpark this season earning six of their eight victories on the road. Northwest Arkansas earned two wins in Tulsa over the past weekend; but are coming off two consecutive losses to the same Drillers team dropping both at home. The Naturals have hit .245 on the road led offensively by second baseman Justin Trapp who in seven road games this season is hitting an even .400 (10-for-25) with five runs batted in.

The Naturals will look to rekindle the success achieved in the middle two games against the Springfield Cardinals in last weeks series. Northwest Arkansas took game two, 3-2, using a walk-off home run by Naturals first baseman Mark Threlkeld to even the series. The Naturals would carry the momentum into game three behind the left arm of Sam Selman who tossed five innings of two-hit baseball surrendering just one run in the 6-5 victory.

The Kansas City Royals No. 4 overall prospect (Baseball America) and Naturals right-fielder Jorge Bonifacio is swinging a hot bat hitting .308 (12-for-39) over the last 10 games. The Dominican outfielder hit just 3-of-14 against the Cardinals last week with a double and three walks; but has six hits - including a double - over the last four games. Bonifacio has played every inning of the first 24 games this season.   

The Cardinals are winners of four of their last five games with the pitching staff logging a 2.66 ERA and the offense hitting .287 over the last five games. Springfield just wrapped up an eight game road trip between visiting the Naturals and the Arkansas Travelers. The Cardinals went home with 5-3 record on the trip including winning three out of four against the struggling Travelers. 

Springfield first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez picked up the Texas League Offensive Player of the Week honors after accumulating the most hits in a week in all of the minor leagues. Rodriguez hit .519 (14-27) over the course of the week with five doubles, a triple and a home run coming against the Naturals. The Puerto Rican infielder went 11-for-18 including six extra base hits during the series against the Naturals.

The Naturals and the Cardinals will play four games beginning tonight and a total of 32 times this season.  

GAME 1: RHP Cody Fassold (1-0, 3.29) v. LHP Jonathan Cornelius (2-2, 4.76) April 29 - 7:10 p.m. Hammons Field

*Fassold will take the ball in a spot-start situation making his first professional career start. The right-hander from Gaston, Ore. has appeared in eight games as a reliever throwing 13.2 innings while striking out 16 and walking just three. The 25-year old hurler has never completed more than three innings in one outing and has reached as high as 50 pitching this season back on April 13. 

*The Naturals faced off against Cornelius just five days ago. The Springfield southpaw tossed six innings  scattering four hits while allowing just two runs, only one of which was earned. The left-hander struggled in his first two starts of the season; but has picked up a pair of wins in his latter two pitching seven and six innings.

The game can be heard on 1030 KFAY with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 6:55 pregame show.

GAME 2: RHP J.C. Sulbaran (1-1, 2.95) v. RHP Kurt Heyer (2-1, 2.93) April 29 - 11:10 a.m. Hammons Field

*Sulbaran will look to continue to build off of his previous two starts including his latest quality outing on April 25 against the Tulsa Drillers. Over the right-hander's last 12 innings of work, Sulbaran has allowed a single run, on eight hits and has struck out six. The Dutchman has posted a 0.75 ERA over his last two starts.

*Since allowing six runs to cross on April 3 in his first start of 2014, Heyer has been one of the best pitchers in the Texas League winning two of his last three outings while completing at least six inning in his last four starts. Heyer is not a big strike out threat ringing up just three in his last start against Arkansas; but has surrendered only seven walks all season in 30.2 innings.

The game can be heard on 92.1 the Ticket with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 10:55 a.m. pregame show.

GAME 3: RHP Jason Adam (0-3, 6.00) v. RHP Kyle Hald (2-2, 4.76) April 29 - 7:10 p.m. Hammons Field

*The Royals No. 9 prospect (Baseball America) turned in his first quality start of the season on Saturday, April 26 allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four over the course of six innings. The lone run Adam surrendered was a solo home run in the third innings and went on to retire the final 10 batters he faced. Adam has posted two consecutive strong outings and is continuing to build on that foundation.   

*Hald made his Texas League debut against the Naturals on April 24 en route to earning his first victory as a Springfield Cardinal. The right-hander gave five innings of work allowing just two runs; but the Naturals had opportunities against the hurler stranding seven men on base during his five innings of work.

The game can be heard on 92.1 the Ticket with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 6:55 pregame show.

GAME 4: RHP Tim Melville (0-1, 2.52) v. RHP Seth Blair (2-2, 4.76) April 29 - 7:10 p.m. Hammons Field

*Melville is still searching for his first victory at the Double-A level for the 2014 season. The 6-foot-5 right-hander tossed seven innings in his last outing on Sunday, April 27 allowing five runs - two earned - on just five Tulsa hits. Melville has posted a .170 opponents batting average good for second lowest among starters in the Texas League this season.   

*Blair has been solid in his last two outings allowing just two earned runs over the course of his last 11.2 innings of work. The two runs came against the Naturals on April 22 where Blair did not factor in the decision. In his only start against Northwest Arkansas, Blair threw 6.2 innings allowing five hits while striking out three and walking three. Blair has issued 10 walks over his last two starts.

The game can be heard on 1030 KFAY with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 6:55 pregame show.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

-Naturals-