Naturals win wild one over Cardinals

NW ARKANSAS 9, SPRINGFIELD 3

SPRINGDALE — With towering homers, two center fielders going down with injuries and a pitcher ejection, Northwest Arkansas’ 9-3 win against Springfield featured plenty of fireworks on and off the field Friday night at Arvest Ballpark.

Adding to the oddities in the three-plus hour game, the teams combined for 27 hits and 11 walks.

Xavier Fernandez launched a high solo homer over the left center field wall in the fourth inning and Samir Duenez deposited another moonshot into the right field bullpen for a two-run homer in the sixth inning to power Northwest Arkansas’ attack.

In the second, Northwest Arkansas evened the score at 1-1 when Fernandez smashed a ball that Cardinals’ center fielder Chase Pinder attempted to catch as he leapt and crashed into the wall. Pinder dropped immediately to the warning track and laid motionless for more than a minute as teammates and training staff rushed to his aid. Pinder ended up exiting the game with concussion-like symptoms.

Naturals center fielder Erick Mejia fell to the turf while trying to chase down a deep fly ball into the gap in right-center field that resulted in a double for Blake Drake. After getting checked by training staff, Mejia jogged off a leg cramp and remained in the game.

Springfield starting pitcher Genesis Cabrera was ejected in the fifth inning. Following Fernandez’ homer, the left-handed Cabrera sailed a fastball over Kort Peterson’s head with a 3-0 count and was promptly ejected by home plate umpire Cody Oakes.

The Naturals took the lead for good with a three-run, second inning inning that was highlighted by Fernandez’ RBI triple, an RBI single by Peterson and an RBI double by Duenez.

In the seventh, Nick Heath sliced a two-out, two-run triple down the right field line and Jeckkson Flores followed with an RBI single in the seventh to create the final margin.

SHORT HOPS

■ When Pinder left with an injury, it put Springfield in a bit of a conundrum with only three position players, including two infielders and a catcher, remaining on the bench. Manager Johnny Rodriguez ended up moving first baseman John Nogowski to center and inserting Chris Chinea, a catcher, at first base. Nogowski has not been in the outfield all season, but played 10 games in left field in 2016. ■ For his ejection for intentionally throwing at a batter, Cabrera faces a fine and possible suspension after the ruling is reviewed by Texas League president Timothy G. Purpura. Based on similar league decisions recently, the fine may be about $400.

■ With 11 games to go on the 2018 schedule, the Naturals are 4.5 games behind of division leading Tulsa, which defeated Arkansas 3- 0 on Friday.

On Deck: The Naturals travel to Little Rock for a three-game series against Arkansas beginning at 6:10 p.m. Northwest Arkansas plans to pitch right-hander Jace Vines (2-3, 7.71) while the Travelers have not named a starter at press time.

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