Cardinals fall to Naturals in front of second straight sellout crowd

June 1, 2019

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield Cardinals (22-33) fell 12-5 to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (23-31) on Saturday night in front of a season-high sellout crowd of 7,490 at Hammons Field.

DECISIONS:
W: RHP Brady Singer (1-0)
L: RHP Johan Oviedo (1-2)

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
- The Naturals poured four runs on the Cardinals in the first inning before the sellout crowd could really settle into their seats. The Cardinals cut that lead in half in the bottom of the first, but three more runs in the third for Northwest Arkansas made it a 7-2 game. The three-run third came courtesey of home runs by 2B Gabriel Cancel and LF Kort Peterson.

- CF Dylan Carlson smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to pull the Cardinals back within three, but following a 48-minute rain delay in the top of the eighth, the Naturals pulled away with three runs in the eighth and a 12th in the ninth.

NOTABLES:
- Carlson (2-for-3) doubled, homered, drove in a run and scored three runs out of the leadoff spot. He has five multi-hit games in his last eight starts.

- C Brian O'Keefe (2-for-3) and 1B Chris Chinea (2-for-4) finished with multi-hit games. Chinea has three multi-hit games this homestand, raising his average from .232 to .259.

- In his first appearance since April 24, Cardinals RHP Will Latcham tossed 2.0 scoreless relief innings, walking one, striking out two and holding the Naturals hitless.

- Cardinals RHP Junior Fernandez lowered his ERA to 0.92 with 2.0 perfect relief innings, striking out four. Fernandez has thrown 15.1 straight scoreless innings, striking out 22 over that stretch.

- Royals No. 1 prospect RHP Brady Singer made his first Doube-A start on Saturday, allowing four runs (2 ER) on four hits and three walks over 5.0 innings, striking out one and hitting a batter.

WHAT'S ON DECK:
- Springfield ends its six-game homestand Sunday night vs. the Naturals with first pitch set for 6:10 p.m. and gates opening at 5:10 p.m.

Sunday is Purina Bark in the Park and our Purina St. Louis Cardinals "YADI" Dog Bowl Giveaway (2,000 fans). All dogs who bring their owners out to the ballpark must enter through Gate 3 and are encouraged to sit on the outfield grass.

- Sunday is also a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday & Kids Run the Bases, with free ice cream sandwiches before the game.

- The Cardinals will also be wearing surprise specialty uniforms on Sunday to be autioned off during the game, with proceeds benefiting the Springfield Sports Commission.

Check out all the upcoming fun and order your tickets right now at SpringfieldCardinals.com/promotions.