Naturals Rally Late to Take Series Opener, 5-3
Published on August 3, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A two-run rally in the top of the ninth inning for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals was the difference on Friday night at Dickey-Stephens Park as the Naturals overcame a three-run deficit to defeat the Arkansas Travelers by a score of 5-3 in front of a crowd of 4,541.
The Travelers (20-21, 47-64), who were looking to break their current four-game losing streak, jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a trio of runs coming home in the third inning. Alberto Rosario reached base with one out in the inning as the first pitch Rosario saw from Mike Montgomery (2-2) bounced in the dirt and struck Rosario on the carom, giving him first base on a hit-by-pitch. Two pitches later, Travis Witherspoon exited Dickey-Stephens Park for a two-run homerun to left field. Renny Osuna, who reached on a walk after Witherspoon's bomb, would come around to score the Travs' third run of the frame a couple of batters later on a head's up base running play that saw Roberto Lopez beat out a potential double play. As Lopez hustled down the line at first, Osuna took the opportunity to race home and score.
The offensive surge in the third inning was in support of Travs' starter A.J. Schugel (5-7), who went on to earn the no-decision after working 5.1 innings while giving up three runs (one unearned) on six hits. Schugel also issued four free passes and collected four strikeouts in his time on the mound.
A RBI fielder's choice by Mario Lisson in the top of the fourth inning platted the Naturals' (12-29, 49-62) first run off Schugel. Two innings later, the Naturals would tie the game with a pair of runs as Paulo Orlando and Carlo Testa each notched RBI singles. Testa's hit chased Schugel and brought Jarrett Grube on in relief for the Travs. Grube would end the inning on just three pitches as he induced an inning-ending double play.
The score would remain tied at three-all over the seventh and eighth innings as the Travs and Naturals combined to put just three men on base. That total could have been a lot higher had it not been for a double play that each team was able to turn in the seventh inning.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Naturals picked up a break as Testa was able to lead off the inning by reaching first base on a strikeout as Rosario's throw to first base to complete the putout went errant. Rey Navarro then made the error pay in the following at-bat as he doubled down the left-field line to score Testa for the go-ahead run. A groundout of Manny Pina advanced Navarro to third. In the next at-bat, Navarro scored an insurance run on sacrifice fly by Alex McClure.
After working a hitless eighth, the Naturals' Ethan Hollingsworth (2-7) came back out for the ninth to close out the win. Hollingsworth would retire the first two Travs in the inning before issuing a walk to Casey Haerther to bring the tying run to the plate. Hollingsworth would work a full count to Jimmy Swift before he sat Swift down on strikes to end the game.
Game two of the four-game series between the Travs and Naturals is scheduled for a 7:10 first pitch on Saturday, August 4th.
Texas League Stories from August 3, 2012
- Naturals Rally Late to Take Series Opener, 5-3 - Arkansas Travelers
- 'Riders Victimized by Five-Run Sixth - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cardinals Beat Tulsa 4-3 in 10 Innings - Springfield Cardinals
- Missions Defeat Frisco 8-2 In Series Opener - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Rally in the Ninth for Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Nick Van Stratten Activated from 7-Day DL - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, August 3 at Midland - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Tulsa to Host Frisco & Midland August 8-13 - Tulsa Drillers
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