Runs come too late for Cardinals in 7-4 loss to Naturals

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- If momentum exists from game-to-game, the Cardinals have it for Friday night.

But it came too late Thursday at Hammons Field, where three runs in the ninth woke up the crowd of 5,372 but weren't enough in a 7-4 Cardinals loss to the Naturals in the opener of a four-game series.

Springfield's loss snapped a season-high five-game winning streak.

Andy Young sparked some excitement and a bit of hope into the ballpark by knocking a two-run shot to left without an out in the ninth that drew Springfield within 7-3. The Cardinals were able to get an additional run home to cement the 7-4 final off a two-out Randy Arozarena single, but Franco Terrero ended the spurt by striking out Evan Mendoza.

Cardinals starter Mike O'Reilly (3-5) lasted 5.1 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Four of the runs were earned.

Jace Vines (1-1) earned the win for Northwest Arkansas. Vines entered with two outs in the first inning after the Naturals used rehabbing starter Jesse Hahn as an opener, a term coined by the Tampa Bay Rays this season.

Vines went on to toss 7.1 innings of one-run baseball on four hits and a walk. He added seven strikeouts.

The Naturals went up 1-0 in the fourth with a Nick Dini single and 2-0 an inning later off a Kelvin Gutierrez single.

A four-run sixth inning for the Naturals blew things open. Kort Peterson drove in a pair with a double, Erick Mejia made it 5-0 off a single and another Gutierrez single flashed 6-0 on the scoreboard.

Johan Mieses pulled the Cardinals within 6-1 in the sixth with his fifth homer of the season.

A triple by Nick Heath put the Naturals ahead 7-1 in the seventh.

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