SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Despite a stout effort by pitcher Matt Strahm, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals fell to the Springfield Cardinals 4-3 on Monday night at Hammons Field in Springfield.
With Kansas City Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo in the stands, Strahm — a 24-year-old West Fargo, N.D., native — twirled 7 innings of two-run baseball with five strikeouts in a no-decision effort.
Unfortunately for Strahm, Springfield (10-7) had the final at-bat and used it to the club’s full advantage. Reliever, Yender Caramo (1-2, 3.29) had two outs and two on in the bottom of the ninth inning and delivered a first pitch to Cardinals’ third baseman, Paul DeJong, that scored both runners as Springfield took Game 1 of the four-game series.
In Strahm’s seven frames, the left-hander made just two mistakes. Outfielder, Harrison Bader, hit the first pitch he saw in the first inning for a lead-off home run, but Strahm retired the next three in order. Then, in the second inning, First baseman, Luke Voit, hit the second pitch he saw over the fence for a solo home run; but again, Strahm retired the next three batters consecutively.
That trend of home run and three retired did not hold. Strahm settled in and worked from the stretch just twice in his first six innings of work. The southpaw retired 12 of the final 15 batters he faced an fanned five batters on his night. He left the game with a 3-2 lead.
The Naturals trailed 2-0 entering the top of the fourth. Bubba Starling led off the frame with a double, and Hunter Dozier reached on an error to put men at the corner with no outs against Springfield’s starter, Trey Nielsen. Right-fielder Orlando Calixte laced an 0-2 pitch up the middle that was stabbed behind second base by shortstop, Breyvic Valera who started a 6-4-3 double-play as the Cardinals traded a Naturals’ run for two outs, making the score 2-1.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Carlos Garcia pummeled a Nielson offering back up the middle, deflecting off the Springfield starter to set the table for the top of the order. Two batters later, Raul Mondesi corked his fourth home run of the night and put the Naturals’ in front, 3-2. That score held until the bottom of the ninth inning.
Northwest Arkansas looks to even the series tonight in Springfield.