SPRINGDALE -- The Northwest Arkansas Naturals love a Sunday stroll.
The Naturals jumped on Arkansas for five runs in the first inning and coasted to a 7-2 victory on the final Sunday home game of the season before an announced crowd of 4,474. Northwest Arkansas (26-35, 66-65) improved to 13-9 on Sundays this season, officially making it their best day of the week just ahead of the 10 victories on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Five of the first six Naturals reached base in the bottom of the first inning and all scored. Ramon Torres led off the Naturals' inning with a walk, moved to second on Raul Mondesi's sacrifice bunt and went to third on Jorge Bonifacio's single. Torres scored on a wild pitch, and Alex Liddi walked. Lane Adams launched a home run off the roof of the Bullpen Cafe, scoring Bonifacio and Liddi for a 4-0 lead.
Bubba Starling followed with a walk and aggressively took second on a long fly out to center by Hunter Dozier. Starling then scored on a two-base throwing error by Arkansas first baseman Eric Aguilera on a ground ball for a quick 5-0 cushion off Arkansas left-hander Sean Newcomb.
"That's great especially with Dziedzic on the mound and who they were throwing, he's a good prospect," Northwest Arkansas Manager Vance Wilson said. "There weren't a lot of hits, but we got some walks, the guys were patient, and obviously, we got the big hit with Lane. That's a good way to start off."
Staked with a 5-0 lead, Jonathan Dziedzic bumped his record to 10-6 with five solid innings.
The only runs for Arkansas (32-30, 68-63) came on a two-run home run by Blake Gailen in the second inning. Northwest Arkansas answered in the bottom of the inning with run when Raul Mondesi scored on a wild pitch after walking with one out, going to second on a passed ball and stealing third base.
Matt Murray and Kevin McCarthy combined to throw four scoreless innings to wrap up the victory for Dziedzic, who threw 52 of his 83 pitches for strikes.
Sports on 08/31/2015