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 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Explode for Seven-Run Ninth to Capture Fourth Straight Win

May 2, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


TULSA, Okla. - Trailing for the majority of the games, the Naturals faced a 3-2 deficit entering the top of the ninth against former big league right-handed reliever, Dale Thayer, of the Tulsa Drillers (8-15). But Hunter Dozier came to the plate and took Thayer's first pitch offering over the left-centerfield wall and tied the game, 3-3. That big fly ignited a seven-run inning which saw 11 Naturals' reach the plate en route to a 9-3 win over the Drillers at ONEOK Field on Monday afternoon.

Northwest Arkansas (11-12) has now won four straight games and finished the shortened road trip, 5-2 overall.

Thayer (1-1, 6.75) never got comfortable on the hill after allowing the home run to Dozier. Bubba Starling sharply singled to center on the following pitch and Mauricio Ramos moved Starling into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

The Naturals took the lead for good on the next hitter, Frank Schwindel's, go-ahead RBI single, to take a 4-3 lead. Thayer allowed six runs (four earned) on five Naturals' hits. Right-hander Seth Frankoff came out of the bullpen after the previous reliever achieved just one out.

Each player in the Naturals' starting nine reached base today and eight of the nine recorded a hit. Dozier led the offense with two hits - both of which came in the top of the ninth inning - as he doubled in his final at-bat of the day. Cam Gallagher tallied a two-hit performance as Northwest Arkansas pounded out 10 base hits, including four doubles and a home run. The Naturals have recorded double-digit hits in the last three games.

Right-hander, Christian Binford, dazzled again on the hill as he made his fifth start of the season. Binford allowed three runs in his first three innings; but went on to retire the final 14 batters face before turning the ball over in the eighth to Benino Pruneda (1-2, 5.19). Binford's final line reads 7.0 innings, four hits, three runs (all earned), no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 89 pitches with 65 going for strikes.

Binford has now gone back-to-back seven-inning starts this season and is 2-0 over his last three outings with a 3.32 ERA.

Pruneda worked a perfect eighth and scoreless ninth to earn his first win of the season.

Northwest Arkansas will take this momentum into a four-game homestand beginning Tuesday, May 3 at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals welcome the Springfield Cardinals to town as right-hander Jake Junis (1-2, 6.00) takes the hill for Northwest Arkansas as the Cardinals counter with right-hander, Andrew Morales (3-1, 2.16) on the opposing end.

First pitch from Arvest Ballpark is set for 7:05 p.m. Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, for a 6:45 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch on the flagship station of the Naturals, 92.1-FM, the Ticket.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the Season Nine of Naturals Baseball, tickets, groups, promotions, roster, season standings, player statistics, and updates on Naturals alumni.

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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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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