Sod Poodles Drop Series Finale 10-4
Amarillo, TX – The Amarillo Sod Poodles ended their six-game homestand with a 10-4 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday night. For the fifth time in the six games, the Sod Poodles were forced to work from behind as the Naturals scored runs in the top of the
Amarillo, TX – The Amarillo Sod Poodles ended their six-game homestand with a 10-4 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday night. For the fifth time in the six games, the Sod Poodles were forced to work from behind as the Naturals scored runs in the top of the first inning.
Deyni Olivero started his second game of the series in a similar fashion to his start on Tuesday. The Naturals ran into three quick runs off Olivero including a two-run home run hit by Naturals' first baseman Robbie Glendenning. The Sod Poodles responded - as they had the majority of the series - recapturing the lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Back-to-back home runs from the Amarillo 1-2 hitters brought the Sod Poodles within a run. Jorge Barrosa hit the second leadoff home run of the year for the Sod Poodles. Tristin English followed in Barrosa's footsteps, hitting a home run for the second straight night and his second in Double-A. The Sod Poodles then walked ahead of Roby Enriquez's double that put two in scoring position. The second walk issued by Naturals' starter Zack Phillips loaded the bases. A RBI fielder's choice and an error plated the next two runs for Amarillo, as they took a 4-3 advantage.
Now that's a way to start this game!
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) July 3, 2022
Back-to-Back home runs for our 1-2 hitters.
Jorge Barrosa and @EnglishTristin have been 🔥🔥🔥 this series. pic.twitter.com/FVTgmCjtk2
The game would remain a 4-3 stalemate for the next three innings as each starter responded by allowing just four combined hits with Amarillo notching three of those. Olivero allowed just two base runners after the first inning, a walk that was immediately removed from the base paths on a double play and a one-out double that was left stranded on second. The right-hander finished the game with four innings pitched and allowed three earned on four hits. He walked two and struck out two as well.
Sod Poodles reliever Dillon Larsen made his second appearance since being transferred from High-A Hillsboro ahead of Wednesday's game. The lefty was the first man out of the Amarillo bullpen Sunday. A walk and RBI double tied the game for the Naturals. Three more hits and runs came across as the Royals Double-A affiliate re-took a three-run lead in the 5th inning
In his first action since being promoted from Hillsboro, Shane Muntz picked up his first two Double-A hits, going 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk. The Naturals pitching staff held the Amarillo offense in check, allowing just four hits and zero runs over the final eight innings of play.
Amarillo's best chance to cut into the deficit came in the bottom of the eighth. The Naturals walked the bases loaded with Barrosa headed to the plate with two outs. After falling behind 0-2, the outfielder worked the count full. He fouled off a pitch and then eventually rolled over a ground ball to Glendenning manning first base.
Jake Rice and Mack Lemieux each made appearances out of the bullpen for the Sod Poodles. Rice pitched the seventh, allowing a pair of runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Lemieux pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. A one-out home run in the top of the 9th brought an end to the night's scoring as Lemieux would strike out the next two batters he faced.
Amarillo now hits the road for the start of a six-game series against a Texas League North Division foe in the Wichita Wind Surge. The team will play on Monday, July 4 before an off day Tuesday, and then the rest of the series is set to play out through Sunday, July 10. Right-hander and D-backs' No. 8 rated prospect, Brandon Pfaadt will get the ball in game one of the series from Riverfront Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and all games will be available to watch through MiLB.TV.
Notes:
Off With A Bang: Jorge Barrosa and Tristin English teamed up to hit back-to-back home runs, becoming the fourth tandem to do so for the Soddies this season. It was the first time Amarillo has hit back-to-back jacks since Eduardo Diaz and Andy Yerzy did so on May 10 on the road in Springfield. It was the eighth home run of the year for Barrosa and the second for English. Barrosa's home run was just the second leadoff home run hit this year for the Sod Poodles and the first time since Corbin Carroll started the Mother's Day game on May 8th against Midland with a homer.
Carry Over: Barrosa and English hit home runs in consecutive games, joining a list of six other Sod Poodles who have hit a homer in back-to-back games, joining Corbin Carroll, Juan Centeno, Andy Yerzy, and Roby Enriquez. Leandro Cedeño and Drew Stankiewicz had a run of three games with a home run with Cedeño doing so on two occasions including this series against the Naturals.
Naturals Nightmare: Leandro Cedeño had a stellar series against the Naturals, going 11-for-22 with three home runs, 11 RBI, nine runs scored, and drew seven walks, playing in all six games in the series. The Venezuela native saw his season batting average climb to .298 and is now in a tie for the team lead in home runs in 2022.
Double-A Debut: Shane Muntz saw his first Double-A action since being transferred from High-A Hillsboro on June 29. Muntz went 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk.
Roby's Time To Shine: Thrust into the cleanup spot for five of the six games in the series, outfielder Roby Enriquez went 7-for-17 with two home runs, two doubles, and six RBI.