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Lucas Drives In Six Helping Naturals To Win

September 3, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS - Ed Lucas drove in six runs to lead the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to an 8-2 victory over the Arkansas Travelers on Wednesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. Finishing the game 3-for-5, Lucas belted a grand slam (10) in the ninth inning to cap his night and added a pair of doubles. Anthony Lerew (W, 10-6) earned his fourth consecutive winning decision holding the Travs to two runs (one earned) over six innings while adding six strikeouts.

The loss knocks the Travs out of contention in the Texas League North Division second half standings. The Travs sit five games out of first place behind Northwest Arkansas with five games remaining in the regular season. Both the Tulsa Drillers and Naturals hold the tiebreaker edge over the Travs in case of a tie for the top spot.

Lucas had a hand in seven runs as he doubled with two outs in the first inning and scored when Corey Smith lined a home run (21) off Amalio Diaz (L, 3-7) over the right-field fence. Smith's first home run in 24 games gave the Naturals a 2-0 lead.

After retiring the first five Travs batters, Lerew allowed a single to Branden Florence followed by another single to right field from Wil Ortiz. As Florence slid into third base, the throw from Lucas in right field bounced off Florence's leg and into the third base dugout bringing home one run. Ortiz advanced to second base, but was stranded when Hainley Statia lined out to right field.

Naturals shortstop Chris McConnell, who finished 3-for-4, hit a leadoff single in the second inning. After the first out, Kurt Mertins hit a single to right field and McConnell advanced to third base ahead of a wild throw from Ivan Contreras. The error allowed Mertins into second base and both runners scored when Lucas ripped a double past third base giving Northwest Arkansas a 4-1 lead.

Diaz held the Naturals scoreless over his final four innings of work and completed seven innings. The Naturals scored four runs (three earned) against Diaz while collecting ten base hits. Diaz issued no walks and struck out three.

Lerew allowed just three singles from the third inning through the fifth until Hank Conger hit a home run (11) to right field leading off the sixth inning. Trailing 4-2, the Travs brought up the tying run after Mark Trumbo doubled. Ryan Mount's groundout moved Trumbo to third base, but the inning ended when Mertins caught Florence's line drive and stepped on third base for a double play.

David Herndon worked a scoreless eighth inning for the Travs, then Barret Browning relieved for the ninth.

The Naturals loaded the bases against Browning with no outs on a single by Cody Clark, a hit batsman to Marc Maddox and a single from McConnell. Browning rebounded the strike out the next two batters bringing Lucas to the plate. Working the count to 3-2, Lucas hit a line shot over the left-field fence to cap the Naturals lead at 8-2.

Aaron Hartsock (Sv, 6) pitched the last three innings of the game allowing one base runner to record the save.

Time of game was 2:28 and the paid crowd numbered 4,133.

The Travs and Naturals have two games remaining in the series with Thursday night's pitching matchup pitting Arkansas left hander Mike Anton (2-8, 5.42) against Naturals lefty Rowdy Hardy (4-3, 2.75). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

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