Binford Stalls Frisco in Double-A Debut
Published on July 5, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. "" RHP Christian Binford was spectacular in his Double-A debut picking up his first win behind seven Northwest Arkansas (8-8, 33-53) runs as the Naturals took the series opener from the Frisco RoughRiders (8-7, 48-36) by a 7-3 final.
Binford allowed three runs through seven innings of work, but he did not surrender a hit through his first five innings. The first hit that came against him was a single off the bat of Jake Skole to open up the sixth. Skole would come across to score following a double by Drew Robinson and an RBI groundout by Guilder Rodriguez. The Royals 10th-ranked prospect struck out two hitters and tossed 90 pitches, 64 for strikes.
The Naturals' offense sparked early, as three runs were pushed across in the first inning. Lane Adams, Orlando Calixte and Jorge Bonifacio each singled to open the frame. Cheslor Cuthbert then drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly before Hunter Dozier's single drove in Calixte. Bonifacio would come in on a Juan Graterol groundout to cap the scoring.
RHP Alec Asher, the Texas Rangers 14th-ranked prospect, then settled in throwing five scoreless innings until Northwest Arkansas got to him again in the seventh. Angel Franco led off the inning with a single and Adams was walked intentionally two batters later. Franco has now hit safely in twelve of his last thirteen games and is riding a four-game hit streak. Immediately after Adams' walk, Calixte belted the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence for his eighth homer of the season. Calixte finished the contest with two hits and three RBI.
In the eighth, Dozier smashed his first homer at the Double-A level, putting an exclamation point on the Naturals' 7-3 win.
Two more runs came across Binford in the Frisco half of the seventh, but RHP Malcom Culver entered in the eighth and shut the door on the RoughRiders earning his fifth save of the season. Culver fired two scoreless innings allowing just one hit.
The Naturals and RoughRiders will do it again tomorrow, Sunday, July 6 at 6:05 p.m. with a Post-Game Catch on the Field presented by SourceGas on Kids Eat FREE Family Sunday. RHP Jason Adam (2-8, 5.87) will get the nod for the Naturals in game two against RHP Jared Eickhoff (6-5, 4.15).
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 5:50 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch.
Texas League Stories from July 5, 2014
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- Missions Fall to Cardinals in Opener - San Antonio Missions
- Hald and Cardinals Take Opener, 2-1, in San Antonio - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Drop Series' Opener in Corpus Christi - Tulsa Drillers
- Binford Stalls Frisco in Double-A Debut - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Drop Opener to Cards - San Antonio Missions
- San Antonio Missions Game Notes: July 5 vs. Springfield (7:05 PM CST) - San Antonio Missions
- Big Night at the Wolff with a Big Win - San Antonio Missions
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