SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Northwest Arkansas Naturals dug out of an early hole for the 8-6 comeback win against the Springfield Cardinals before 2,909 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals (29-29) jumped in front in the top of the second with a bases-loaded, two-out RBI single from 2B Tommy Edman and a run-scoring wild pitch from LHP Foster Griffin, opening the 2-0 advantage.
After a two-run shot from LF Anderson Miller in the bottom of the second tied it, Springfield reclaimed the lead in the top of the third. With two outs, LF Victor Roache singled and DH Granden Goetzman walked, extending the inning for 1B Chris Chinea. Chinea promptly powered a three-run home run to right field, propelling the Cardinals ahead, 5-2.
An RBI triple from 3B Evan Mendoza in the top of the fourth stretched the Springfield lead to its largest point, 6-2.
However, the Naturals began chipping away with a two-run homer from 1B Alex Liddi in the bottom of the fourth, the final frame for RHP Mike O’Reilly.
With the Cardinals hanging on to a 6-4 lead and RHP Ramon Santos on the mound, the Naturals (28-30) tied it in the bottom of the sixth. With one on and two down, 3B Jecksson Flores pulled an RBI double to left field. C Nathan Esposito then struck out on a wild pitch that bounced away from C Jeremy Martinez, allowing Esposito to reach base and Flores to score all the way from second base, tying the game at 6-6.
Northwest Arkansas then seized their first lead of the night in the bottom of the seventh against LHP Jacob Evans (L, 0-4). With two on and one away, RF Elier Hernandez sliced a two-run single to swing the Naturals ahead, 8-6.
Northwest Arkansas then received scoreless relief in the eighth from RHP Michael Mariot before a scoreless ninth from RHP Jake Newberry (S, 9), closing the 8-6 win for the Naturals.
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