Allen Craig Knocks Out Four Hits in Springfield Cardinals 13-2 Win Over Northwest Arkansas Naturals

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MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Springfield, Mo. - The Springfield Cardinals grabbed a share of first place on Saturday night, winning their fourth straight game by defeating the Northwest Arkansas Naturals by a score of 13-2 at Hammons Field.  The victory for Springfield (16-12) gives them six wins in their last seven games, as they move into a tie for first with Northwest Arkansas (16-12) in the North Division. 

Allen Craig had four hits and Mark Shorey drove in three runs, supporting Adam Ottavino’s second win of the year.

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Ottavino (2-5) allowed just one run on four hits over five innings, picking up his first win since June 18th and his first at Hammons Field.

The Naturals took an early 1-0 lead in the first, as Jose Duarte singled to lead off the game, stole second base, then scored on a Marc Maddox RBI single. 

Springfield responded with a run in the bottom of the first, as Jon Jay and Allen Craig picked up back-to-back singles with one out.  After a walk to Cody Haerther loaded the bases, Andrew Brown legged out a fielder’s choice to bring home Jay, tying the game at 1-1.

The Redbirds took the lead for good in the bottom of the third, as Jay and Craig reached to open the inning, walking and doubling respectively.  Cody Haerther’s groundball to short brought home Jay, making it 2-1.  With Craig at third and one out, Shorey delivered a sac fly to deep left field, putting Springfield in front 3-1 against Naturals’ starter Blake Wood (3-4). 

In the fourth, Craig picked up Tyler Greene with an RBI single, giving the Cards a 4-1 lead.  Shorey capped a three-run fourth inning with a two-run single, driving home Jay and Craig to put Springfield up 6-1.

Scott Vander Weg came out of the Cards’ bullpen in the sixth and immediately was taken deep by Kila Kaaihue, who blasted his league-best 24th homer of the year to make it 6-2.  Vander Weg would go on to work two full innings, with the Kaaihue home run being the only man to reach against him. 

Isa Garcia popped his third home run of the year, belting a three-run shot into the left-field bullpen in the seventh, making it a 9-2 game. 

Jose Martinez picked up a two-run triple in the eighth, then scored on a Garcia single, making it 12-2.  Tyler Greene capped Springfield’s scoring and a four-run eighth inning, bringing home Brandon Yarbrough with an RBI single to make it 13-2.  

Chris Carpenter will be on the mound for your Springfield Cardinals on Sunday night, as the former National League Cy Young winner will make his first rehab appearance since having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last year.  Carpenter will be opposed by Naturals’ left-hander Rowdy Hardy (4-8). 

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