TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Chacin Fans Ten in Drillers Victory

Published on June 16, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- The first time Jhoulys Chacin pitched against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Naturals worked their counts and were able to come away victorious. Like any top pitching prospect, Chacin made the adjustments and this time came out on top as the Tulsa Drillers beat the Naturals by a 5-3 final.

Chacin, the Colorado Rockies' top pitching prospect, looked all that Tuesday night as he set down the first 17 batters in a row, the first six via the strikeout. His perfect game bid was broken up in the Naturals' sixth when, with two out, Cody Clark launched a frozen rope over the wall for his first homer of the 2009 season.

For the first three innings, Naturals' starter Blake Wood was nearly as good, keeping the Drillers off the board in the first three frames, including getting himself out of a two-on, one out jam in the third. But Tulsa was able to get three across in the fourth. Jeff Kindel led off with a walk and scored on an ensuing double by Michael Paulk. Paulk then came in on a double by Ryan Harvey. Mike McKenry scored the third run on a sacrifice fly by Cole Garner. They got one more in the fifth on an RBI single by Paulk that put the Naturals in a 4-0 hole.

The Naturals were able to chase Chacin in the eighth. With Tulsa owning a 4-1 lead, Chacin retired Ed Lucas on a groundout but reached his pitch limit after issuing a walk to Cody Strait. It was the only walk surrendered by Chacin (5-5), who fanned ten and allowed just two hits in 7 1/3 innings. After the Drillers brought in the left-hander Adam Bright, Strait was moved over on a single by John Suomi came around to score on an RBI single by Josh Johnson. Tulsa skipper Ron Gideon then went to his closer, Andrew Johnston for the four-out save opportunity. Kurt Mertins greeted Johnston with a single that scored Suomi to cut the lead to 4-3, but Jordan Parraz lined the ball hard into the glove of Drillers' second baseman Daniel Mayora for the third out. Parraz was 0-for-4, snapping his club record 19 game hitting streak.

Wood (2-5) pitched relatively well in the loss. He lasted seven innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs while walking two and striking out four. Southpaw Ben Swaggerty pitched a scoreless eighth in his Naturals debut.

Tulsa (33-30) scored an insurance run in the ninth off of Gilbert De La Vara, which became moot when Johnston set down the Naturals in order to close out the game, earning him his league leading 18th save.

Northwest Arkansas (33-30) and Tulsa are now tied for second place in the Texas League North Division, two games behind Springfield with seven to go in the first half. The two teams wrap up their four-game set with a daygame on Wednesday. Left-hander Keith Weiser (4-5, 4.48 ERA) takes the hill for Tulsa against right-hander Dan Cortes (4-5, 4.14 ERA). Game time is 12 P.M.

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.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 16, 2009


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