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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Another comeback win leads to sweep

July 3, 2010 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- Making pitches when it counted most, the Naturals got the Missions to strand 14 runners on base Saturday night as they notched another comeback win in a 4-2 victory, completing a three-game sweep of San Antonio at Arvest Ballpark.

The Missions, who were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position, had not ever been swept by Northwest Arkansas (7-2, 49-30), but a two-run fourth inning brought the Naturals back from a 1-0 deficit and they led the rest of the way.

San Antonio got on the board early as they got a one-out single from Drew Cumberland. Cumberland was gunned down by Naturals' catcher Manny Pina attempting to swipe second. Logan Forsythe walked and then came around to score on an RBI double from Matt Clark. Sawyer Carroll then popped up to end the threat.

Scoring chances certainly didn't elude San Antonio in the loss. They had baserunners on in every single inning, but also stranded runners on the bases in each frame as well. The first inning run was all they managed against Naturals' starter Eduardo Paulino, however, as he worked around a walk in the second, and then a one-out double and a baserunner off an error in the third.

San Antonio had a good chance at Paulino in the fourth, with Mitch Canham and Andy Parrino reaching on back-to-back base hits. But again Paulino escaped when Christian Colonel grounded into a double play and Brad Chalk popped out.

Just as in both of the other games in the series the Naturals staged a comeback. Mike Moustakas led off the fourth with a double and scored easily on Clint Robinson's ensuing triple. Robinson then came in on a sacrifice fly from Paulo Orlando, giving the Naturals a 2-1 lead.

The Missions were knocking on the door again in the fifth as they got two runners on with one out. Cumberland walked and Forsythe reached on an error. After Clark flied out, Paulino loaded the bases on a walk to Sawyer Carroll. But Canham flied out to left to end the threat. San Antonio chased Paulino in the sixth, one batter after he issued his fifth walk of the game. But the Missions couldn't get that runner in either, as Ben Swaggerty got a pop-out and a groundout to end that inning.

Paulino (7-3) recorded his team leading seventh victory in the 5 1/3 inning outing. He managed to work around five hits and the five walks, which was a season high. He fanned two.

The Naturals added an insurance run in the sixth, an unearned run helped out by one of the Missions' three errors on the night. Orlando singled with one out and then advanced to second on an errant throw from San Antonio center fielder Blake Tekotte. Missions' starter Cory Leubke uncorked two wild pitches with Anthony Seratelli at the plate, allowing Orlando to score, putting the Naturals up 3-1.

Luebke (4-1) lasted seven innings for San Antonio, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned). He issued just one walk and recorded four strikeouts.

Sawyer Carroll's two-out looping RBI single in the seventh helped San Antonio (4-5, 39-40) get a run back, cutting the lead to 3-2, but the Naturals added the insurance back in the eighth off the Texas League's best reliever. Craig Italiano, who leads the loop with 16 saves, plunked Johnny Giavotella to start the eighth. After Giavotella swiped second and moved to third on a single from Robinson, Manny Pina hit a two-out chopper that eluded Missions' third baseman Logan Forsythe's charge, allowing Giavotella to score.

Brandon Sisk worked around two singles in the ninth to earn his eighth save on the season for the Naturals.

The Naturals now welcome in the Corpus Christi Hooks for a three-game series that begins with an Independence Day matchup at 6 P.M. Right-hander Mario Santiago (5-6, 3.29) will take the ball for the Naturals opposite left-hander Douglas Arguello (7-3, 2.40) for the Hooks. Arguello currently sits atop the Texas League Leaderboard in earned run average.

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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Texas League Stories from July 3, 2010


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