Naturals win in 10, force meaningful Monday

With one game remaining in the regular season, Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas will play for the postseason on Monday. The winner of the 1:05 p.m. game will take on the Springfield Cardinals beginning Wednesday.

By Robbie Aaron

September 4, 2016

Springdale, AR - The Arkansas Travelers fell 2-1 in 10 innings to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday night at Arvest Ballpark.

Monday is the regular season finale, and the winner of the game between Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas will win the second half and make the playoffs.

With the game tied 1-1 in the 10th, RF Logan Moon led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a wild pitch. Arkansas intentionally walked CF Alfredo Escalera to put the double-play situation intact, but 3B Mauricio Ramos grounded a ball to the left-side hole for an infield single that won the game for the Naturals.

Northwest Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the third on a 2B Corey Toups home run. The Travs tied the game in the sixth on an 3B Andrew Daniel RBI groundout.

Both teams left the bases loaded in the seventh and stranded 20 combined men on base. The Travs and Naturals finished a combined 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Northwest Arkansas had the winning run on second with no outs in the ninth, but failed to score.

SS David Fletcher (2-for-5) and RF Anthony Phillips (2-for-4) produced the two multi-hit games for Arkansas.

Travs starter RHP Alex Blackford worked 6.1 innings and allowed the run on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Blackford finishes the regular season with a 3.07 ERA.

RHP DJ Johnson and LHP Edward Paredes got the Travs to the ninth with 1.2 scoreless innings of combined relief.

RHP Eduardo Paredes took the loss, allowing the run in the 10th.

RHP Alex Klonowski (1-2, 4.12) will take on RHP Josh Staumont (1-1, 3.45) on Monday. First pitch in the regular season finale is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.