Barfield Walks off on Naturals
Published on May 30, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR -The Midland RockHounds got a walk off home run from Jeremy Barfield in the bottom of the eleventh inning to top the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 7-6 on Wednesday night. The Naturals are now 1-3 in four games against the RockHounds this season.
The Midland RockHounds were able to capitialize on a throwing error by Naturals' second baseman Rey Navarro, to pick up a run in the first inning. The error allowed Michael Choice to get to second base, and eventually score on a single by Michael Spina that made it 1-0.
The Naturals offense got a big inning in the top of the third inning. Yem Prades ripped a one-out double to deep left field to get things started. Christian Colon singled to score Prades and tie the game at one. Eric Duncan followed with a two-run home run to give the Naturals a 3-1 lead.
The lead was short lived for the Naturals. Choice led off the bottom of the inning with his fourth home run of the year off of Justin Marks to cut the deficit to 3-2. Spina hit his fifth double of the season to center field, and later scored on a sacrifice fly fromBarfield to tie the game at three.
The Naturals retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Prades led off the inning with a single, his third hit of the game, and later scored on a triple by Duncan that made it 4-3. The triple was the first of the season for Duncan, who picked up his third RBI of the night on the play. Mario Lisson followed with an RBI single against RockHounds starter Dan Straily that made it 5-3.
The RockHounds rallied yet again against the Naturals bullpen in the bottom of the sixth inning. Naturals' reliever Ryan Dennick walked Josh Horton to start the frame. Choice hit a one-out single, and Spina came through with a two-run double to re-tie the game at five.
Neither starter factored in the decision, Marks went four innings allowing five hits and three, runs two of which were earned. Straily went six innings surrendering eight hits and five runs, while striking out four for the RockHounds. The four strikeouts give Straily a league leading 79 for the season.
The Naturals offense took the lead for a third time in the eighth inning thanks to Lisson. The first baseman singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by RockHounds catcher Ryan Ortiz. Paulo Orlando drove in Lisson with a sacrifice fly that gave the Naturals a 6-5 lead.
For the third time the RockHounds offense answered right back, this time against the Naturals' Patrick Keating. Leonardo Gil hit a one-out single to centerfield, and Choice followed with another single to put runners on the corners. Gil scored on a wild pitch by Keating to tie the game again, this time at six.
The RockHounds got the walk off home run from Barfield in the bottom of the eleventh inning,off of the fourth Naturals' reliever of the night, Buddy Baumann, to make it 7-6.
The Naturalscontinue their three-gameseries with theRockHounds tomorrowat 7:00 PM.Elisaul Pimentelwill take the hill for the Naturals (2-2, 6.83) against the RockHounds right-handerShawn Haviland(2-4, 5.79). The game can be heard on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.
Texas League Stories from May 30, 2012
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- Barfield Walks off on Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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