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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Cards Crumble in the Sixth, Naturals Win, 3-2

August 28, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- Springfield committed a balk and a wild pitch in the decisive sixth inning, allowing the Naturals to come from behind and beat the Cardinals 3-2 in the first game of a twi-night double-header at Arvest Ballpark.

Cardinals' reliever Eduardo Sanchez, who hadn't allowed in a run against the Naturals all season, relieved Cards' starter Brandon Dickson (8-10) with one out in the sixth. Sanchez walked Vance Wilson, the first batter he faced, to load the bases. With Corey Smith at the plate, Sanchez committed a balk that allowed Ed Lucas to score the tying run coming from third base. That tied things up at 2-2, and, after Sanchez got Corey Smith swinging, he threw a wild pitch on his second pitch to Marc Maddox as David Lough crossed home plate as the lead run.

Closer Juan Abreu came in for the seventh and got Pete Kozma to line out and retired Tony Cruz on a groundout for two quick outs. He issued a walk to Colt Sedbrook, who had come on a defensive replacement in the sixth for Springfield. Jim Rapoport followed and singled into shallow right to put two runners on, but Abreu fanned Donovan Solano for the final out, notching his fourth save.

That made a winner of Rowdy Hardy (4-3), who went the first six frames, allowing four hits and two runs, both homers. He walked one, fanned two, and hit two batters.

The Naturals had taken the early lead when Jarrod Dyson singled to start the game, and then swiped second, his first of three steals on the day. Ed Lucas' two-out single brought Dyson in for the 1-0 lead. Dyson now has 32 steals with the Naturals despite joining the team in mid-June.

Andrew Brown hit the first of Springfield's two homers with a longball to lead off the second inning. For Brown, it was his tenth homer of the season and fourth of this series. Tony Cruz hit the other homer in the fifth for Springfield (27-31, 65-63).

Jeff Bianchi bunted fair to start the sixth for Northwest Arkansas (31-28, 67-62). Ed Lucas' single followed and moved Bianchi to third. Bianchi was thrown out trying to score on an ensuing groundout by David Lough, who reached safely at first. That was all for Dickson (8-10), who was removed in favor of Sanchez, who would allow both of the inherited runners to score, in turn tagging Dickson with the loss.

Tulsa lost to the Travelers on Thursday, so the Naturals remain in second place and now one game behind the Drillers in the Texas League North Division. Tulsa comes to town for a three game series that begins on Saturday night. The Naturals will throw right-hander Blake Johnson (7-8, 4.81) opposite left-hander Brandon Durden (7-2, 2.79) for the Drillers.

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 August 28, 2009


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