BRONTSEMA, BIG BATS COME OUT AS NATURALS TAKE SERIES

SPRINGDALE, Ark. - John Brontsema collected four hits and finished a triple shy of the cycle as the Naturals pounded out 13 hits and beat the Arkansas Travelers in the series finale, 9-7 on Thursday night at Arvest Ballpark.
Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the first, Northwest Arkansas (18-21) rallied back immediately. Elier Hernandez delivered a two-run double and then scored on a 400-foot two-run home run by Anderson Miller to vault the Naturals in front, 4-1.
Brontsema recorded his first knock of the night in the third inning with a one-out double and promptly crossed the plate following a Donnie Dewees two-bagger to give the Naturals a 5-1 lead. Brontsema tacked an RBI single in the third and a solo home run in the fifth that traveled 400-feet over the leftfield wall for his first Double-A home run of his career.

Northwest Arkansas led 9-6 entering the bottom of the eighth inning with Brontsema leading off the inning. With a count of 2-2 against, he swung and singled past the reaching glove of the shortstop, Yonathan Mendoza to complete his four-hit night and finish a triple shy of the second cycle in franchise history.
Right-hander, Scott Blewett (2-3, 5.31) worked into the seventh inning to earn his second win of the season before turning the ball over to Walker Sheller and the bullpen. Sheller tossed 2.2 innings, coming one-out shy of his first save of the year. Right-hander, Luis Vasquez notched the final out for his second save of the year.
The Naturals pounded out a season-high seven extra-base hits in the game including a season-best five doubles. Dewees finished the night 3-for-5 with his 15^th RBI of the season and his sixth double of the year. Miller finished 2-for-4 with a double and home run on the night while Jecksson Flores tabbed two hits to extend his career-best and league-best hitting streak to 13 games.
With the series win, the Naturals have clinched three consecutive series for the first time since early-May, 2017. It's the club's fourth series win on the year. 
The Naturals hit the road for a five-game road trip in four days at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri on Friday night. Left-hander, Emilio Ogando (2-2, 6.26) takes the mound for the Naturals.
Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, with a 6:50 p.m. pregame show leading up to first pitch to the 7:10 on AM-1590 the Ticket-2 and the Naturals Radio Network.
Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Facebook and Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the 2018 season of Naturals baseball.
 
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.
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