TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Frisco Capitalizes on Naturals' Mistakes

Published on August 10, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


FRISCO, TX - Naturals' reliever Eduardo Paulino loaded the bases in the bottom of the tenth on two walks and a hit batsmen, then threw the ball away as Frisco scored the winning run on his wild pitch, walking away with a 4-3 win.

Paulino (2-3) on for the bottom of the tenth inning with the score tied at three, issued a leadoff walk to Davis Stoneburner, and, after getting 'Riders slugger Tommy Mendonca to popout, plunked Mike Bianucci and then walked Jose Ruiz to load up the bases with one out. His second pitch to the next batter, Jonathan Greene went wild as Stoneburner scored the winning run.

After scoring a pair in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead, Northwest Arkansas (23-22, 58-54) coughed up the tying run in the bottom of the seventh as reliever Brendan Lafferty issued a pair of walks before being lifted in favor of fellow southpaw Blaine Hardy. Hardy induced a ground ball off the bat of Renny Osuna, but Naturals' shortstop Christian Colon's throw to first went wild, allowing Osuna to reach and the lead runner, Mitch Hilligoss, to score. Hardy picked Osuna off first base and, after a walk to Davis Stoneburner, got a groundout from Tommy Mendonca to escape further damage.

Errors and wildness plagued the Naturals all night as Frisco (23-22, 63-52) scored their first run on an error by Naturals' starter Jeremy Jeffress. Jeffress plunked Jose Ruiz to start the second, and after Engel Beltre grounded into and reached on a force out of Ruiz, he stole second base and scored when Jeffress threw wild on a bunt attempt by Mitch Hillgoss.

Mike Bianucci homered to lead off the fourth to put Frisco up 2-0.

The Naturals answered back with a run in the fifth as Ryan Eigsti hit a sacrifice fly to score Rey Navarro, who reached on a leadoff double. Navarro's one out single in the seventh preceded Mario Lisson's 12th homer of the season, a two-run shot which gave the Naturals the 3-2 lead the bullpen couldn't hold.

Jeffress pitched four innings, allowing two hits and two runs (one unearned), while walking one and striking out three. He also plunked two batters, part of four times Frisco was hit by pitches on Wednesday.

Mario Lisson and Rey Navarro were in the middle of most of the offense for the Naturals, as Lisson had three hits including the homer, and Navarro was also 3-for-4. Northwest Arkansas totaled ten hits on the night.

Frisco reliever Justin Miller (8-1) picked up the win, keeping the Naturals scoreless in the tenth.

Game two of the series is Thursday night as the Naturals send left-hander Chris Dwyer (6-9, 5.77), looking to get a win in his fifth consecutive start, to the mound opposite veteran Frisco lefty Ben Snyder (8-4, 4.57). Game time is 7 P.M. and the broadcast can be heard on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from August 10, 2011


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