TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Moustakas Records Two Hits But Naturals Fall to Travs

Published on May 18, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas made his first appearance with Northwest Arkansas today on a MLB Rehab Assignment. The former 2010 Texas League Player of the Year and Naturals Hall of Famer recorded two singles and a RBI in the game but the Naturals (18-20) would eventually fall to the Arkansas Travelers (15-24) by the score of 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon in front of a crowd of 7,616 at Arvest Ballpark.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, the Naturals offense got it going against RHP Tyler Carpenter (1-2, 3.86 ERA) of North Little Rock. With one out in the frame, Ramon Torres doubled to left-center field and came around to score on a Moustakas RBI single to right-center field. A line drive single to center field in the fifth would give Moustakas his second hit of the afternoon. On the day, Moose went 2-for-4 with the Naturals lone RBI.

Northwest Arkansas wasn't able to muster enough run support to take advantage of a strong start by LHP Matt Strahm (2-3, 2.49 ERA). The left-hander gave up two runs (one earned) in 6.2 innings of work while he scattered five hits, walked three, and struck out four. Coming into the game, Strahm had the sixth best ERA in the Texas League at 2.69 and proceeded to lower that total to 2.49 in defeat. The four strikeouts give him 44 on the year, which is good for top spot in the circuit. Former Natural RHP Alec Mills previously held that spot but was recalled by the Kansas City Royals earlier in the day as the 26th man for today's split doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox.

Northwest Arkansas out-hit Arkansas 8-to-6 with Torres, Moustakas, Mauricio Ramos, and Logan Moon all recording multi-hit games while Cal Towey led the Double-A Angels by going 2-for-4 with a RBI in the win.

Northwest Arkansas will conclude this 4-game series against the Arkansas Travelers at Arvest Ballpark tomorrow night - Thursday, May 19 - with first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Buck Night on Thirsty Thursday presented by Foghorn's. The Double-A Angels will send RHP Blayne Weller (1-5, 3.92 ERA) to the mound and the Naturals will counter with RHP Jake Junis (3-2, 3.52 ERA) and his 19.2 scoreless innings streak. You can catch the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for Naturals baseball on AM-1590, The Ticket 2 at 6:45 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch against the Travelers.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from May 18, 2016


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