Hosmer Propels Naturals in Comeback
Published on July 18, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR - Eric Hosmer drove in three runs and hit his second Double-A homer as the Naturals put up four unanswered runs to come back and beat the Springfield Cardinals 4-3 on Sunday night at Arvest Ballpark.
With the Naturals down 3-1, Hosmer's sixth inning fly ball banged off the top of the center field railing and back onto the field of play. Hosmer stopped at third as the ball was originally ruled by first base umpire Kelvin Bultron to have been in play. Naturals' hitting coach Terry Bradshaw, coaching first base, argued with Bultron as the ground rules of the park state that a ball hit off the railing is a home run. Bradshaw was ejected, but after his departure the umpires conferred, changing the call.
Ballgame now tied, Hosmer struck again in the eighth after some clutch baserunning by the Naturals' speedy Jarrod Dyson. Dyson reached on a force out with one out and then stole both second and third base. Derrick Robinson fanned, and then Hosmer followed with a double that snaked just inside the left-field foul line past third. That easily scored Dyson for what ended up the winning run.
Springfield (7-13, 45-45) took the early lead, getting two runs across in the fourth after Naturals' starter Chris Dwyer, a talented lefty making his third Double-A start, keep them hitless in the first three frames. Tony Cruz led off and reached when Naturals' second baseman Johnny Giavotella dropped his lazy fly ball to shallow right. Dwyer fanned Matt Carpenter and got Steven Hill to fly out to right, but then he walked Andrew Brown and Curt Smith. Chris Swauger followed with a two-run single to put Springfield up 2-0.
That lead was extended to 3-0 on a long homer by Andrew Brown in the top of the sixth. Those two run-scoring hits ended up being all that Dwyer would allow though in six solid innings. He was charged with three runs, although the two in the fourth were unearned. He fanned seven and walked just two.
Meanwhile, the Naturals (14-6, 57-34) could not get anything going for the first five innings off Cards' starter Ryan Kulik. Kulik limited Northwest Arkansas to two hits through five innings before the Naturals finally got on the board in the sixth. Jeff Howell singled to start the frame but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. After Chris McConnell grounded out, Jarrod Dyson walked and then Derrick Robinson's RBI double scored Dyson to cut the Springfield lead to 3-1. Hosmer's heroics followed, and the Naturals' pen kept Springfield at bay the rest of the game.
Ben Swaggerty (4-4), who pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Dwyer, was credited with the victory and Patrick Keating worked around a one-out single in the ninth to earn his third save.
Thomas Eager (2-3), who allowed Hosmer's RBI double in the eighth, took the loss for Springfield.
The Naturals now head to North Little Rock for a four-game series against the Arkansas Travelers that begins Monday night. Right-hander Aaron Crow (6-6, 5.61) takes the mound for the Naturals opposite Travs' lefty Michael Anton (4-6, 4.17). First pitch is 7:10 P.M. and all the action can be heard on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.
Texas League Stories from July 18, 2010
- Hooks Sack Second Straight Series - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travelers Strike Early to Drop Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Springfield Edged by Naturals 4-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Hosmer Propels Naturals in Comeback - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- 'Riders Drop Series Finale - Frisco RoughRiders
- Quick Four Game Set with Naturals - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Extend Partnership with Colorado Rockies - Tulsa Drillers
- Son Of A Beach! - Midland RockHounds
- Naturals and Cards split twinbill - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- 'Riders can't hold on against the Hooks - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Drop Travelers 7-4 - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Split Doubleheader with Naturals - Springfield Cardinals
- Van Kooten Leads Tulsa To Saturday Win - Arkansas Travelers
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