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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Lee Leads Naturals to Series Win over Drillers

July 22, 2018 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark - Northwest Arkansas was searching for their 10th series victory of the season and they received a great performance from outfielder Khalil Lee as he leads the Naturals (7-21, 42-56) to a series win over the Tulsa Drillers (20-9, 54-45) with a 5-2 victory on Sunday afternoon. Northwest Arkansas takes three-of-four against first-place Tulsa to earn the series win.

Coming off a sluggish game offensively, Northwest Arkansas was looking to get their bats going on Sunday afternoon. Lee, the Royals Top Prospect, led a 10-hit attack with three knocks including a double, a run, and two RBIs from the leadoff spot. The 20-year-old outfielder recorded his first three-hit game for Northwest Arkansas since being called up from Wilmington on June 28.

The Naturals broke open a scoreless game in the third with a four-run frame. Lee started the scoring with a RBI single to plate Nick Heath to make it a 1-0 game. Two batters later, Samir Duenez ripped a two-run single past the shift and into right field to extend the lead to 3-0 before Alex Liddi capped the scoring with a RBI double into left-center that scored Duenez from first.

Tulsa would get a run back in the top of the fourth as Jacob Scavuzzo hit a solo home run, his 17th on the year, to cut it to 4-1.

Northwest Arkansas would keep the pressure on and regain their four-run lead in the home half of the fourth with some two-out offense. Xavier Fernandez doubled down the left field line and then Lee drove him home with a double of his own.

The Drillers would add to their total in the fifth on a RBI double by Will Smith but that would be all the offense they'd be able to muster in the contest. The visitors threatened again in the seventh and the eighth as they would get two runners on with no one out but Naturals' relievers Walker Sheller (H, 2) and Gabe Speier (H, 4) were up to the task to keep them off the board.

Emilio Ogando (W, 6-6) made his 19th start of the season and was solid throughout. He earned his team-leading sixth win after posting another quality start, which is his third in his last four outings. He left the ballgame after 6.0 innings of two-run baseball before giving way to the bullpen. Andres Machado (S, 3) pitched a perfect ninth to earn his third save for the Naturals.

Mitchell White (L, 2-5) started for Tulsa and took the loss after surrendering five runs, one earned, on eight hits in 5.0 innings.

Northwest Arkansas will welcome the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, to town tomorrow night - Monday, July 23 - to begin a 4-game in 3-day series with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. for Monday Night Lights presented by Ozarks Electric with Dollar Hot Dogs by Tyson Foods, Inc. and Indigo Sky Casino Baseball Bingo. The Naturals will send right-hander Scott Blewett (4-6, 5.75 ERA) to the hill while the Travs will counter with right-hander Chase De Jong (5-4, 4.05 ERA) in the series opener. Catch all of the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on KQSM - 92.1 The Ticket starting at 6:45 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Facebook and Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the 2018 season of Naturals baseball.

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.

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Texas League Stories from July 22, 2018


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