Sports stats

TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Diekroeger Plays Hero in Extra-Inning Win over Frisco

July 4, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


FRISCO, Texas. - Northwest Arkansas had to find a way to score with runners in scoring position and they did in the person of second baseman Kenny Diekroeger who delivered the go-ahead run-scoring single to plate Bubba Starling from third base in the top of the 10th in the Naturals 3-2 win over the Frisco RoughRiders on Saturday night. The series finale victory secured Northwest Arkansas (44-35/4-5) the series win in front of 11,876 fans at Dr. Pepper Ballpark.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Alex Liddi took a 3-1 Andrew Faulkner pitch straight out to center field to tie the game with his ninth home run of the season. Liddi finished the night 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of walks.

Starter Cody Reed gave up his second run of the ninth in the third inning; but navigated his way through 6.0 complete innings retiring the final 10 batters faced. The left-hander did not factor in the decision; but paved the way for the bullpen.

Starling came to the plate with two men on and no one out in the 6th frame with the Naturals still trailing 2-1 and drove home Liddi from second to tie the game with his ninth double of the season. Starling ended his night 2-for-3, with a double and two walks along with a run scored.

Right-hander Aroni Nina tossed the seventh and eighth innings, scoreless, following Reed's outing with left-hander Sam Selman (3-3, 3.41) pitching the ninth and the 10th innings to earn his second win of the series. Selman won the opening game of the set on Thursday, July 3.

The Naturals won their first road series since sweeping the Arkansas Travelers on May 12 and are now 16-6 in series finales this season.

The final leg of the six-game road trip continues on Sunday, July 5 with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch from Security Bank Ballpark against the Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics). Right-hander Luke Farrell (1-2, 4.61) takes the hill for his sixth start of the season against right-hander Tim Atherton (5-3, 5.31) going for the RockHounds.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics



Texas League Stories from July 4, 2015


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.

Other Recent Northwest Arkansas Naturals Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central