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Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Bianchi Delivers in Clutch Tuesday

August 23, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MO - With his team down a run in the top of the ninth, Jeff Bianchi provided both the tying and go-ahead runs with a two-run single, lifting the Naturals to a 5-4 win over the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Tuesday night.

Springfield (24-33, 56-71) entered the game's final inning with a 4-3 edge, but Rey Navarro opened the frame with a single off of reliever Jorge Rondon (1-8). After Paulo Orlando popped out, Derrick Robinson reached on an error and Rondon hit Christian Colon with a pitch, setting the table for Bianchi's at bat.

The Northwest Arkansas (32-25, 67-57) second baseman wasted no time, sending the first pitch he saw up the middle and into center field. Navarro and Robinson crossed the plate, and though Bianchi was thrown out at second on the play, the Naturals had a 5-4 lead that they did not relinquish.

With the lead in hand, Edgar Garcia came on in the bottom of the ninth and needed just 10 pitches to work a 1-2-3 frame and pick up his fifth save of the season. Garcia induced a pop up and two fly balls, getting Daryl Jones to sky a ball to center for the final out.

Though they had to come back in the final frame, the Naturals got out to an early lead against Springfield starter Shelby Miller. In the top of the first, Robinson opened the game with a walk, stole second and scored on Colon's RBI single. With Matt Treanor at the plate later in the inning, Miller balked Colon home to give the Naturals a 2-0 advantage.

Springfield got a run back in the bottom of the second, when Zack Cox took Natural starter Jake Odorizzi deep for a solo home run. The Cardinals then tied the score two innings later, as Charlie Cutler singled home Jermaine Curtis to make the game 2-2.

In his first start in nearly two weeks, Miller lasted just four innings, allowing two runs on four hits. The Naturals got to reliever Scott Schneider for a run in the top of the sixth on Orlando's bloop single.

That 3-2 lead was short-lived, however, as Cox victimized Odorizzi yet again in the bottom of the sixth. With Matt Adams on first, Cox launched his second homer of the game to give Springfield a 4-3 lead. Odorizzi has now yielded 12 home runs in 10 starts with the Naturals after giving up just four in 15 starts with Advanced-A Wilmington.

Odorizzi departed after the sixth, allowing four runs on eight hits. The 21-year-old displayed impressive control over the course of his start, striking out five Cardinals without walking a batter. Southpaw Brendan Lafferty (2-0) worked around two hits and two walks in tossing a pair of scoreless innings, earning the win in relief.

Robinson's stolen base was his league-best 48th of the season. The outfielder needs just two more thefts to match his total from last season, when he also led the circuit.

In other North Division action, the Tulsa Drillers topped the Arkansas Travelers by a count of 5-0. The Naturals now hold at least a five-game lead on all of their divisional foes, and the club's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now 8.

The Naturals and Cardinals will meet again on Wednesday for the second game of this four-game series. Right-hander Mario Santiago (4-1, 2.08) is set to start for the Naturals against Jon Gast (4-2, 4.04). The game will get underway shortly after 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.

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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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