CARDINALS WIN HOME RUN DERBY IN FINALE

SPRINGDALE, Mo. - Springfield and Northwest Arkansas combined for seven home runs as a two-run home run in the eighth inning proved to be the difference in the Naturals 9-7 loss at Hammons Field on Monday afternoon.
Northwest Arkansas (21-23) dug themselves an early hole as Springfield used a pair of two-run homers in the first and second inning to take a 4-0 lead.
The Naturals went without a hit over the first 3.1 innings against right-hander, Chris Ellis , but got to the hurler the second time through the line-up. Following a one-out single by Nicky Lopez in the fourth, Elier Hernandez drove him home with a triple in the right-centerfield gap to put Northwest Arkansas on the board. Alex Liddi then plated Hernandez from third to cut the Cardinals lead to 4-2 in the fourth.

Right-hander, Zach Lovvorn settled in following a rough first two innings and strung together a streak of five straight retired over the third and fourth innings. He finished 5.0 innings, allowed five runs on seven hits and surrendered a career-high three homers in the outing. Lovvorn entered the start having allowed just one home run in his first seven starts for the Naturals.
The Naturals pulled within a run in the fifth inning with Erick Mejia's run-scoring infield single to score Corey Toups following his one-out double. The Cardinals countered back with a solo homer in the home half to extend the lead to 5-3.
The bats continued in the sixth inning for the Naturals. With a runner on for Anderson Miller he clobbered a two-run, game-tying home run over the leftfield wall for his fourth of the season, tying the game at five. An inning later, Toups would give the Naturals a 7-5 lead with a two-run homer beyond the left-centerfield wall and get Lovvorn off the hook.
Springfield tied the game with a two-run single in the seventh and used a two-run homer in the eighth inning by Blake Drake to take the final lead of 9-7.
Right-hander, Pedro Fernandez , appeared in his first game April 19 after being reinstated from the 7-day disabled list and worked two innings, allowed two runs on three hits with a strikeout. Yunior Marte (1-2, 4.47) took the loss after working the eighth inning. Marte struck out two batters in his appearance.
Despite the finale loss, Northwest Arkansas wins its first series at Hammons Field take three of the five games for the first time since May, 2014. The sweep of Sunday's doubleheader marked just the second time in franchise history Northwest Arkansas has swept a twin bill in Springfield and the first time since May 15, 2011.
The series win marks the fourth consecutive series victory for the Naturals, something the club has done only twice before with both occasions occurring during the 2010 season.
The Naturals head home for a six-game homestand beginning on Tuesday, May 22 as the Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers) come to town for a three-game series. Right-hannder, Scott Blewett (2-3, 5.53) take the ball for the Naturals opposite of Frisco's Pedro Payano (2-3, 5.34).
Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, with a 6:45 p.m. pregame show leading up to first pitch to the 7:05 on 92.1-FM, the Ticket 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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