Naturals top Cardinals in series finale, 5-1

Springdale, AR - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals took the series finale against the Springfield Cardinals with a 5-1 win before 4,965 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Friday night.

The Cardinals (31-28) and Naturals (31-28) are back into a tie for 1st place in the North Division with just 11 games remaining in the 1st Half.

The Naturals came out swinging with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first against LHP Austin Gomber (L, 2-4). With one away, 2B Jack Lopez worked a walk, before racing around to third on a single from 1B Samir Dueñez. With runners at the corners, 3B Mauricio Ramos lined an RBI sacrifice fly to left field that plated Lopez and moved Duenez to second base. Duenez then came racing home on an RBI single by SS Humberto Arteaga, doubling the Naturals advantage to 2-0.

Northwest Arkansas extended the early advantage with another run in the bottom of the second. RF Logan Moon led off with a single, and then scooted to second on a groundout. C Nick Dini brought Moon home with an RBI single to left-center field, making it 3-0.

The Naturals added to the lead with one run in the bottom of the third. Lopez and Duenez opened the inning with consecutive walks, followed by an RBI single from Ramos for the 4-0 lead for Northwest Arkansas.

Naturals LHP Forrest Griffin (W, 2-1) kept the four-run lead intact through his first six scoreless innings, before Springfield broke through in the top of the seventh. With two down, 3B Jacob Wilson extended the inning with a double. Wilson darted to third base when SS Alex Mejia reached on an error, before 1B Casey Grayson launched an RBI double to right-center field, scoring Wilson to slice the Naturals lead to 4-1.

Cardinals RHP Chris Ellis had kept the Naturals from adding to their lead with scoreless work from the fourth through the seventh, but Northwest Arkansas struck in the eighth. Ramos led off with a double, before being replaced by pinch runner, OF Jose Sanchez. Sanchez moved to third on a groundout, and then came in the final ninety feet on an RBI base hit by RF Logan Moon to open the Naturals lead to 5-1.

Naturals LHP Sam Selman took over for the top of the ninth and worked around a pair of two-out singles from Wilson and Mejia, closing the 5-1 win for Northwest Arkansas.
Three Bobblehead Giveaways, Dry Fit Shirts, Two Fireworks Shows, Military Appreciation Night and more during June 14 - 25 Homestand
The Cardinals continue the road trip in Tulsa on Saturday at 7:05pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7 FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

The Cardinals then return home for a huge homestand from Wednesday, June 14 - Sunday, June 25. Don't miss any of the fun, including:

-Wednesday, June 14, 5:10pm - Wednesday Night Doubleheader vs. the Arkansas Travelers. Gates open at 4:30pm.

-Thursday, June 15, 7:10pm - Price Cutter & Bar-S Foods Luke Voit Home Run Derby/Batting Champion Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000), Klement's "Buck a Brat" Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, June 16, 7:10pm - Six Flags St. Louis Free Kids Ticket Giveaway (1,000 kids under 48 inches), AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks with Animal Songs and Kids Dress Up Like Animals Day. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, June 17, 6:10pm - Vision Clinic Alex Reyes #1 Pitching Prospect Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and Specialty Jersey Auction to benefit Isabel's House. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, June 18, 4:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 3:10pm.

-Monday, June 19, 6:30pm - Monday Night Baseball vs. the Tulsa Drillers. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Tuesday, June 20, 6:30pm - Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

-Wednesday, June 21, 11:10am - Day Baseball, Chamber of Commerce Networking Day and Summer School Discovery Center Science Educational Day. Gates open at 10:10am.

-Thursday, June 22, 7:10pm - American National Dexter Fowler 2008 Texas League All-Star Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and Klement's "Buck a Brat" Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, June 23, 7:10pm - AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks with Songs from Musicals. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, June 24, 6:10pm - Mercy Dry Fit Shirt Giveaway (2,000), Infuze Credit Union / Fort Leonard Wood Military Appreciation Night, Military Appreciation Fireworks Celebration and Specialty Camo Jersey Auction to benefit MSU ROTC. Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, June 25, 2:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 1:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.
Click here for the complete 2017 Promotional Schedule and to order your tickets right now.
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