SPRINGDALE -- The reigning Texas League Player of the Month came to the rescue of the league's reigning Pitcher of the Month on Thursday night at Arvest Ballpark.
Left fielder Hunter Dozier belted a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the eighth to give the Naturals a 3-2 lead over Springfield and take Naturals right-hander Alec Mills off the hook for what would have been his second loss for the year.
The homer proved to be the game-winner in the 3-2 victory for the Naturals, snapping a two-game skid against Springfield.
Dozier continued his hot hitting from April, when he won Player of the Month honors after hitting .310 with six home runs and 15 RBIs. The blast off Springfield reliever Kurt Heyer was also his second clutch homer this week. Monday, he hit a tying solo home run in the ninth in what wound up being a 9-3 victory over Tulsa.
"Unbelievable approach," Naturals manager Vance Wilson said of Dozier. "Obviously the guy did an incredible job this winter of addressing some things in his swing, bringing it here and putting up (production). Not only putting up, but clutch, especially when the offense seems to be struggling. He's the one that steps up every time."
Dozier's heroics saved the Naturals (12-14) and Mills, who had been set to take the loss despite producing his fifth straight quality start in impressive fashion. He struck out nine while giving up two earned runs on five hits and two walks. It was the fourth time in six starts he allowed two runs or less and he was nearly perfect through five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits before Springfield (15-12) got to him for runs in the sixth and seventh.
Short Hops
• The Kansas City Royals 2015 World Series trophy will be on display at Arvest Ballpark during today's game, which begins at 7:15 p.m. The trophy will be positioned behind stanchions in the concourse. While fans will not be permitted inside the stanchions, they will be allowed to take photos from beyond them.
• Dozier has eight home runs so far this year after hitting 12 all of last season.
• Naturals shortstop Ramon Torres went 1 for 4 to extend his team-best hitting streak to 12 games. It is the longest active stretch in the Texas League and Torres has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games.
• Naturals designated hitter Frank Schwindel went 1 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Schwindel entered the night hitting .313, which was tied for seventh in the Texas League.
On Deck: The Naturals wrap up the four-game home series against Springfield today at 7:15 p.m. Left-hander Matt Strahm (1-1, 2.63 ERA) is slated to start for the Naturals, while right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon (1-2, 3.55) will toe the rubber for Springfield.
Today's Promotion: Faith & Family pregame concert, postgame fireworks spectacular
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 05/06/2016