Naturals Claim Series Victory over Travelers
July 23, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Naturals (16-17, 41-62) pushed across two sixth-inning runs to stake claim to the series finale, 5-3, over the Arkansas Travelers (17-16, 51-52). The victory gave Northwest Arkansas its 10th series win of the season and pulled the club to within one game of its in-state rival for first place in the North Division standings.
Angel Franco had a huge day for the Naturals at the top of the lineup. The shortstop went 3-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a double. Franco extended his hit streak to nine games on Wednesday night, his longest of the 2014 season. Franco has also hit safely in 24 of his last 28 games and Wednesday was his third three-hit contest of the year.
Matt Murray made his third start of the season for Northwest Arkansas. Murray has gone an inning deeper with each start and went five frames on Wednesday. He allowed two runs, but just one was earned. He also did not walk a batter and struck out six. The righty worked out of some tough spots during his outing and went on to throw three scoreless innings to finish his start after two were plated against him in the second.
After falling behind 2-0 early, the Naturals recovered with two fourth-inning runs to even the score. Max Ramirez, who had three hits on Tuesday night, came up with a big two-run single with two outs in the inning scoring Franco and Mitch Maier on the play.
It was Franco again playing a major role in the fifth, giving Northwest Arkansas its first lead of the game. He doubled to left bringing Justin Trapp, who walked, in from first base. But, the Travelers tied it up in their half of the fifth on an RBI groundout by Anderson De La Rosa.
It was the Naturals who had the final say, though, as Micah Gibbs deposited the second pitch of his sixth-inning at-bat over the left field wall for a two-out two-run homer giving the club a 5-3 advantage heading into the late innings. Northwest Arkansas has done a majority of its scoring late with two outs in an inning. Over the past three games, the Naturals have scored 17 runs and 14 of those runs have been scored with two outs.
RHP Andrew Triggs entered in the eighth to convert a two-inning save, his 15th of the season which ranks him second in the Texas League with two other closers. He allowed just one hit and did not surrender a run and sports a 2.48 ERA on the season. RHP Angel Baez (1-4) earned the win tossing two innings of one-run baseball.
Northwest Arkansas welcomes the Springfield Cardinals to Arvest Ballpark for a four-game series beginning tomorrow, Thursday, July 24 at 7:05 p.m. RHP Andy Ferguson (7-8, 3.19) is slated to open the series for the Naturals on Christmas in July on Buck Night on Thirsty Thursday featuring a Santa Hat Giveaway presented by Brach's. Springfield has yet to announce a starter. The Benton, Arkansas native, Ferguson, is coming off of his first nine-inning complete-game shutout of his career, which earned him the Pitcher of the Week award.
You can catch all live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for the Naturals 92.1 the Ticket at 6:50 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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Texas League Stories from July 23, 2014
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