SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas broke out of its offensive doldrums to begin the second half of Texas League play and snapped a five-game losing streak with a 9-2 victory Tuesday over the Arkansas Travelers at Arvest Ballpark.
Naturals starter Pedro Fernandez (1-2) picked up his first Class AA victory, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one. The right-hander gave up a leadoff home run to Caleb Adams in the top of the first, but he was stingy thereafter.
The Naturals scored twice in the bottom of the first off of Travs starter Victor Alcantara, but Adams' double after Anthony Phillips' single tied the game for the Travs in the top of the third.
Ryan O'Hearn's solo home run in the bottom of the third gave the Naturals a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Northwest Arkansas scored more runs Tuesday than it had in its past five games combined (eight).
Naturals Manager Vance Wilson said his team delivered a strong all-around game.
"All the way around, the pitching was good, the defense was good and finally, the offense," Wilson said. "The offense did a great job approach-wise, staying on balls. The situational hitting, the big hit, we got it tonight.
Leadoff man Corey Toups broke out of a 3-for-26 slump for the Naturals, going 2 for 4 with a walk while driving in two runs and scoring three times. Mauricio Ramos led the Naturals' 13-hit attack, going 3 for 5, scoring twice and driving in a run.
Arkansas Manager Mark Parent said Alcantara, who allowed 7 earned runs on 11 hits with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks in 4 innings, fell behind in the count too often.
"They came out swinging today," Parent said. "He got behind some guys, and they got ready for some fastballs and they didn't miss them. That's hitting. If you get your pitch, you don't miss it. We got some fastballs to hit and we took them for strikes."
Adams and Phillips had two hits each, accounting for all of Arkansas' hits.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS AT NW ARKANSAS
WHEN 12:05 p.m.
WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas; KQSM-FM, 92.1, in northwest Arkansas
WEBSITE travs.com, nwanaturals.com
PITCHERS Travelers: Troy Scribner (RHP, 5-3, 3.96 ERA); Naturals: Jake Junis (RHP, 6-4, 3.07)
TRAVELERS WEEK AHEAD
TODAY at NW Arkansas, 12:05 p.m.
THURSDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m. SUNDAY at Springfield, 2:10 p.m.
MONDAY Off
TUESDAY Texas League All-Star game, at Springfield, Mo.
NATURALS WEEK AHEAD
TODAY Arkansas, 12:05 p.m.
THURSDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
SUNDAY at Tulsa, 1:05 p.m.
MONDAY Off
TUESDAY Texas League All-Star game, at Springfield, Mo.
Sports on 06/22/2016