Springfield edges Naturals Saturday
Published on August 1, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR- Disputed calls and lack of situational hitting doomed the Naturals Saturday night as they ended up on the losing end of a 2-1 game with the Springfield Cardinals.
A two-out RBI groundout by Pete Kozma in the fourth inning ended up being the decisive margin as the Naturals stranded nine runners on the basepaths during the evening.
The Naturals had the first good opportunity in the second when David Lough and Vance Wilson drew back-to-back walks, but Springfield starter Scott Gorgen was able to retire the seven through nine hitters Ed Lucas, Cody Clark, and Jose Duarte in order.
Springfield then got an RBI single by Colt Sedbrook in the top of the third for the early lead. Pete Kozma scored and Sedbrook took second on the throw, but Anthony Lerew fanned Steven Hill to end the frame. Kozma's RBI groundout in the fourth put the Cards up 2-1 and capped the scoring.
Lerew (6-6) pitched quite effectively for the Naturals but ended up the hard luck loser. He pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three walks. He fanned seven. Ben Swaggerty followed with three hitless innings of his own and fanned five.
After Gorgen (2-3) departed, the Springfield bullpen kept the Naturals off balance for the remaining four innings. Gorgen lasted the first five, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out three.
Northwest Arkansas (21-14, 57-48) got two runners on in the sixth. Vance Wilson and Ed Lucas both singled with one out, but Cardinals' reliever Marco Gonzalez got Cody Clark to line out to shortstop and they were then able to double off Lucas at first to end the frame.
The Naturals were able to get two runners on in the eighth against Francisco Samuel. With one out, Corey Smith drew a walk and David Lough singled. Smith moved to third, and Lough swiped second to put both runners in scoring position. But Samuel got Vance Wilson and Ed Lucas on questionable called third strikes. The latter, from Lucas, was called on an appeal to first base umpire Brian Hertzog. After signaling that Lucas went around, Naturals' manager Brian Poldberg was ejected arguing the call.
Jose Duarte singled with one out in the ninth off Eduardo Sanchez to put the tying run on once again, but was picked off. Sanchez then fanned Jarrod Dyson to end the game and seal the win for Springfield (16-18, 54-50). Sanchez got his fourth save of the season.
With Tulsa losing to the Travelers, the Naturals remain in sole possession of first place with a one game lead. The series against Springfield continues Sunday afternoon with a 2:30 P.M. matinee. Right-hander Lance Lynn (9-4, 3.30) will toe the rubber for Springfield against Blake Johnson (6-7, 5.27) for the Naturals.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.
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