9,509 fans pack Hammons Field; Naturals top Cards in series finale

Springfield, MO - Before the 10th sellout crowd of the season, 9,509 fans at Hammons Field, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals topped the Springfield Cardinals, 12-0, on Friday night. The Cards and Naturals are tied for 2nd place in the North Division Second Half Standings, only trailing the 1st-place Arkansas Travelers by 1.0 game.

The Naturals (30-30, 55-75) cracked the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning against LHP Anthony Ferrara (L, 7-5). With one away, CF Brett Eibner lined a solo home run over the left field wall, swinging the Naturals into the 1-0 lead.

After a two-run homer by DH Rey Navarro in the third, the Naturals added a fourth run in the top of the fifth inning. With runners at first and second base and one away, RHP Heath Wyatt took over on the mound. LF Lane Adams welcomed Wyatt to the game with a base hit to load the bases for 1B Matt Fields. During Fields' at-bat, Wyatt misfired a wild pitch that enabled Calixte to come in and stretch the Naturals advantage to 4-0.

Northwest Arkansas RHP Aaron Brooks (W, 6-6) kept the Cardinals (30-30, 63-65) bats in check through his six scoreless frames, before the Naturals widened the gap in the eighth inning. The Naturals struck for seven runs in the frame, featuring a two-run single by RF Jorge Bonifacio, an RBI base hit from 3B Cheslor Cuthbert and a grand slam by 1B Matt Fields, making it 11-0.

An RBI grounder by SS Orlando Calixte in the top of the ninth added the final run with the Naturals claiming the 12-0 win.

Click here for the complete box score from Friday's game.

The Cardinals kick off a seven-game road trip in Tulsa on Saturday at 7:05pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

Springfield returns home for the final home series of the 2013 Regular Season, starting on Saturday, August 31. That night will feature the Mercy Knit Scarf Giveaway (2,500), along with AM Pyrotechnics End of Season Fireworks. The Cardinals will also be wearing Teal Pinstripe Specialty Jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit GYNCA. First Pitch is 6:09pm, gates open at 5:09pm.

The Cardinals then take on the Tulsa Drillers again on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6:09pm for the Purina Bark in the Park, when all fans can bring their dogs to the game. The night will feature a pregame pet parade, with all fans that bring pets invited to march around the field. To participate in the parade, please arrive at the ballpark by 5:30pm.

The Sunday, Sept. 1 game will also feature the Purina Pet Food Bowl Mat Giveaway for 2,500 fans. Sunday's game will be a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with free ice cream for kids before the game, and then all kids can run the bases after the game. Gates open at 5:09pm.

The Cardinals then wrap up the 2013 Regular Season on Monday, Sept. 2 with a 12:09pm First Pitch. The Labor Day ballgame is Fan Appreciation Day, with all fans in attendance receiving a free ticket voucher for a 2014 game.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Cake Pop Company 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 Cardinals full 2013 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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