TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals and Cards split twinbill

Published on July 18, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- Eric Hosmer homered on his first Double-A at-bat and Chris McConnell hit a three-run homer to propel the Naturals to a 10-1 win in game one of a twi-night doubleheader. Springfield bounced back for a 11-4 win in game two.

After Springfield scored a first-inning run in game one on a fielder's choice RBI from Steven Hill, the Naturals were able to tie it up in the second on a homer by Hosmer in his first Double-A at-bat.

They got three more in the fifth on McConnell's three-run homer to left. It was the infielder's second homer of the season, but first ever at Arvest Ballpark.

That put the Naturals up 4-1. Cards' starter Nick Additon (4-6) was charged with the loss, allowing the four runs off five hits in five innings. He fanned four and didn't issue a walk.

Northwest Arkansas (14-6, 56-34) roughed up Gary Daley out of the Springfield bullpen in the sixth, putting up a six spot to runaway with game one. Paulo Orlando started the scoring with a one out RBI single. After Jamie Romak drew a walk to load the bases, Jeff Howell hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1. In came the sidewinding Jason Buursma from the Cards' bullpen, and he got a quick flyout on McConnell, but Jarrod Dyson hit a two-run single to make it 8-1. Derrick Robinson followed with a long triple that plated two more runs which capped the scoring in game one.

Edgar Osuna, making his first start since June 23rd, pitched four innings in his game one start, allowing one run on two hits. Henry Barerra (1-0), like Hosmer making his Double-A debut, pitched two scoreless innings and was credited with the victory.

Like game one, Springfield (7-12, 45-44) got one up on the board in the first to start game two. Starter Eduardo Paulino struggled with his control, walking the bases loaded with one out. After Chris Swauger fanned for the second out, Naturals' first baseman Clint Robinson dropped a liner off the bat of Daryl Jones for what would have been the third out, allowing a run to score.

They were able to get Curt Smith to ground into a force out to limit the damage, but worked up Paulino's pitch count and got to him in the third.

Matt Carpenter led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Steven Hill to lead 2-0. Chris Swauger followed with a double and scored on a two-out RBI single by Curt Smith the put the Cardinals up 3-0.

In the 4th, the Cardinals got another insurance run as Antone DeJesus walked and Tommy Pham singled before Steven Hill singled to right field to swell the Springfield lead to 4-0. In the process they chased Paulino (7-5), who was removed after just 3 1/3 innings. He yielded five hits and four runs (three earned).

Cardinals' starter Brian Broderick (3-2) would cruise until the 6th inning allowing no runs on just three hits. With one out in the 6th, Jarrod Dyson singled to center and Derrick Robinson singled to right before Johnny Giavotella bounced a ball to third. The Cardinals got the lead runner at second, but the return throw to first was in the dirt and got by Curt Smith at first allowing Dyson to score an unearned run to make the score 4-1.

Springfield's offense exploded in the seventh, scoring seven runs highlighted by a solo home run by Steven Hill, an RBI single from Daryl Jones, an RBI single by Jermaine Curtis. With the bases still loaded, the Cardinals batted around allowing Matt Carpenter to single home a run and allowed Hill to come to the plate again with the bases loaded and he delivered a bases clearing double to put the Cardinals up 11-1. Six runs of the damage was charged to Naturals' lefty Brandon Sisk.

The Naturals would get to Broderick in the bottom of the seventh, getting four straight hits including an RBI double by Anthony Seratelli and an RBI single from Ben Theriot before Broderick was lifted. Blake King, who the Naturals have hit hard this season, came on and allowed a sacrifice fly to Jarrod Dyson to pull the Naturals to within 11-4, but King would get Derrick Robinson to pop out to end the ball game, earning the Cardinals the doubleheader split and making a winner of Broderick, who pitched better than his final line of four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings indicated.

The abbreviated three-game series wraps up Sunday with a 6 P.M. start. Left-hander Chris Dwyer (2-0, 0.82) toes the rubber for the Naturals opposite left-hander Ryan Kulik (7-2, 2.96) for Springfield.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 18, 2010


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