SPRINGDALE — Northwest Arkansas wasn’t deterred by a three-run, first-inning deficit against Arkansas on Sunday.
Yem Prades broke a tie with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning to help the Naturals to a 7-5 victory over the Travelers before 4,463 fans at Arvest Ballpark. Northwest Arkansas (19-41) won consecutive games for the first time since May 11 and improved its record to 4-25 when an opponent scores first in a game.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Northwest Arkansas 7, Arkansas 5
Arkansas 310 100 000—5 12 1
Northwest Arkansas 120 002 20X—7 9 1
Batista, Cisco (6) Graham (8) and Ramirez; Pounders, Ridings (2), Runion (4), Carl (8), Jackson (9) and Pina. WP — Runion (2-1). LP — Cisco (2-2). HR — Fletcher (5), LIndsey (9).
Arkansas (30-30) issued intentional walks to Brian Fletcher and Matt Fields to load the bases and pitch to Prades, who carried a .189 average with him to the plate in the seventh. But Prades came through and hit the first pitch to center field to give the Naturals their first lead of the game.
Northwest Arkansas then held on while using five pitchers, including Sam Runion (2-1), who pitched 31/2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory.
Arkansas jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning with the help of a two-run home run by Taylor Lindsey. Northwest Arkansas tied the game 5-5 after Brian Fletcher led off the sixth inning with a home run.
THE LINGO
“Yem was looking for a pitch to handle and he got it with that first pitch. He was ready for it and he got the big hit up the middle.”
BRIAN POLDBERG
NWA Naturals Manager
SHORT HOPS
Arkansas could have had more than the three runs it scored in the first inning Sunday. Drew Heid made a bid for a two-out RBI with a sharp single to right field. But Yem Prades threw out a runner going from first to third base before the runner from second crossed the plate.
Orlando Calixte laid face-down spread out at home plate for Northwest Arkansas after being pitch by a pitch in the first inning. But Navarro stayed in the game and scored the Naturals’ first run on an RBI groundout by Matt Fields.
Brett Eibner went 0-4 at the plate, but he turned in a fine defensive play to end the third inning. Arkansas had a runner on when Eibner rushed in from center field and made a diving catch of a ball hit by Travis Witherspoon to end the inning.
Extra Bases: Brian Fletcher has a hit in five consecutive games since coming off the disabled list last week… Northwest Arkansas starter Brooks Pounders was replaced in the second inning after he allowed three runs on four hits in the first… Arkansas starter Lay Batista struck out 10 batters before leaving with two outs in the sixth inning. Batista allowed four runs and seven hits.
Royals Pipeline: Left-hander Everett Teaford started and threw four scoreless innings for Class AAA Omaha Sunday in a 7-0 victory over Oklahoma City. Teaford was 14-3 for Northwest Arkansas in 2010.
On Deck: The Travelers and Naturals will continue their series at 7 p.m. tonight at Arvest Ballpark. Andy Ferguson (1-0, 4.82 ERA) will start for Northwest Arkansas against Mike Piazza (2-1, 3.61 ERA) for Arkansas.
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