TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Junis Pitches Naturals to Series Win in 5-3 Triumph

Published on July 8, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


MIDLAND, Texas - Jake Junis got back on track in a big way on Friday night. The Rock Falls, Ill. native authored seven innings of one-run baseball with seven strikeouts to catalyze the Naturals in a 5-3 finale victory over the Midland RockHounds at Security Bank Ballpark. The series victory in Midland is the club's first since June 25-27, 2014 when Northwest Arkansas won the final two games of the series.

The lone tallied allowed by Junis (8-4, 2.95) was surrendered in the third inning. The run cross unearned due to a passed ball earlier in the frame. But after the RockHounds took a 1-0 lead after three innings, more west Texas weather reared its ugly head and halted the contest for a 21-minute delay.

Northwest Arkansas (38-47/9-6) came out firing once the grounds crew removed the tarps. Corey Toups and Frank Schwindel collected back-to-back base hits and executed a double-steal to put men in scoring position. Three batters later, with two outs in the fourth inning, Cam Gallagher atoned for his third-inning passed ball and doubled down the left-field line to put the Naturals ahead, 2-1. Northwest Arkansas would not relinquish the lead thanks to the pitching of Junis.

The right-hander retired the side in order in the bottom of the fourth inning, despite sitting out for over 30 minutes due to the delay and the long top half of the fourth. Junis allowed one two hits and only one man to reach second from the fourth inning forward. The 7.0-inning performance was the first by Junis since the last time he notched a rubber-match victory: May 29 at Corpus Christi.

The offense added a few more runs with two outs in the seventh. With runners at the corners, Schwindel converted a hit-and-run with Toups at first base and plated Terrance Gore from third. The batter, Ryan O'Hearn had men at the corners and two outs, again, and took a 3-2 pitch into the right-center gap and blew the game open, giving the Naturals a 5-1 lead. The double by O'Hearn is his 19th of the season, tying him for third in the Texas League.

Right-hander Aroni Nina surrendered a pair of runs in the eighth inning while right-hander, Mark Peterson nailed the door shut with a perfect ninth inning and a couple strike outs for his second save of the season.

With the win, the Naturals are now tied for first place in the Texas League North with the Tulsa Drillers and have won five of the club's last six games. The series win over the RockHounds give the Naturals consecutive series wins for the first time in 2016.

Toups and Schwindel led the offense with three hits each while O'Hearn and Gallagher each drove in two runs with a two-run double.

Northwest Arkansas continues their road trip as the club heads to the metroplex, Frisco, Texas, for a three-game set against the Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers). Right-hander, Pedro Fernandez (1-2, 4.03) will take the ball in the series opener against Frisco right-hander, Reed Garrett.

Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, for a 6:45 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show, leading up to the 7:05 p.m. first pitch from Dr. Pepper Ballpark. Hear the broadcast on the flagship station of the Naturals, 92.1-FM, the Ticket.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the Season Nine of Naturals Baseball, tickets, groups, promotions, roster, season standings, player statistics, and updates on Naturals alumni.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 8, 2016


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