Despite a disappointing loss in the loss of the suspended game 2 the Naturals took a series lead and look to close out the division semifinal on Saturday after their win in game 3.
HR Roll Call Ryan O’Hearn 2 (24), Corey Toups 2 (16), Samir Duenez 2 (15), Mauricio Ramos (10)
BP KC Player of the Day – 2 Gms Ryan O’Hearn 5-9, 4R, 2-2b, 3b, 2HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB
Playoffs
NW Arkansas up 2-1 Best of 5
Game 1
Springfield Cardinals 12 NW Arkansas Naturals 11
Despite five home runs the Naturals let the suspended game get away from them when the bullpen couldn’t shut the door with a lead. The game resumed where Ryan O’Hearn’s second home run had left it off, up 8-7 heading into the seventh inning. That score held steady until the bottom of the eighth when a leadoff double and a single off reliever Daniel Stumpf tied it up at 8-8. Manager Vance Wilson turned to Aroni Nina, a reliever who hadn’t given up a run in 14 consecutive outings and was riding a sub 1 ERA since July 1st. Things didn’t go well for the hard throwing reliever as he plunked a pair of hitters and gave up a pair of hits to allow four more runs and give the Cardinals a 12-8 lead. The Naturals bats would get hot once again the top of the ninth, running off three singles, a one out bases loaded walk to Corey Toups to bring in a run and a two out single by Mauricio Ramos to bring the game within a run, but O’Hearn grounded out to end the rally with the tying run on second. The out for O’Hearn ended an impressive game that saw him finish a single shy of the cycle, going 4 for 6 with a two home runs in the loss.
Ryan O’Hearn 4-6 3R, 2b, 3b, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Humberto Arteaga 4-5 R, SB
Corey Toups 1-3 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Game 2
NW Arkansas Naturals 8 Springfield Cardinals 3
The Naturals bats kept the pressure on in game three, connecting for 14 hits which is a low in the three game set so far. Those hits converted into eight runs with a four run sixth doing the most damage. In that frame the Naturals connected on four singles with a pair walks, Frank Schwindel driving in a pair with the final hit of the inning. The Naturals bullpen finished the final five inning with just a run allowed in the ninth to cruise to the win. Second baseman Corey Toups hit his fourth home run of the series while Samir Duenez hit his second, giving NW Arkansas nine long balls in three games.
Samir Duenez 2-5 HR, 2 RBI
Corey Toups 1-5 HR
Frank Schwindel 3-5 3 RBI