Naturals' bats alive vs. Missions Friday
April 10, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SAN ANTONIO, TX- The Naturals outlasted 2008 foe Will Inman and were able to score some insurance runs against the San Antonio bullpen as Northwest Arkansas got by the Missions 8-6 Friday night.
San Antonio wasted no time getting to Anthony Lerew in his first start for the Naturals. Lerew, who started the 2007 season in the Atlanta Braves rotation before missing nearly all the season with injury, allowed a single to Missions' leadoff batter Luis Durango to lead off the inning. Durango stole second, his first of three swipes on the evening, and came home on a double by Eric Sogard. Sogard would come home on a groundout by cleanup hitter Mike Baxter.
Naturals catcher John Suomi homered in the third to cut the Missions lead to one run. It was the first earned run that Northwest Arkansas had ever scored against Inman, who made four very solid starts against the Naturals during the 2008 season.
Though the Missions (1-1) would get a run back in the bottom of the fourth, the Naturals bats began to awaken in the top of the fifth which was pivotal as it helped them chase Inman from the game after 77 pitches. Suomi doubled for his second hit of the night before moving to third on a single by Jose Duarte, which was the final batter for Inman. John Hudgins relieved as the Missions traded a run for a double play off the bat of Joe Dickerson, bringing the Naturals to within a run.
Northwest Arkansas (1-1) plated a run in each of the subsequent two frames to take the lead before the bats broke out in the eighth off of Missions reliever and Major League veteran Chris Britton, who made 26 relief appearances for the New York Yankees over portions of the past two seasons. Britton pitched the eighth and was tagged for four runs. Brian McFall doubled in his second run of the evening, while Joe Dickerson also tripled in two runs. In between, the Missions allowed a run to cross on a fielder's choice.
On a strict pitch count coming off a spring training that saw him join the Royals organization just a few weeks ago, Lerew lasted three innings, allowing three hits and the two first-inning runs while walking four. Nicoll (1-0), followed, tossing three innings and allowing just one run to earn the victory. Michael DeMark (0-1), who allowed a sacrifice fly in the seventh to put the Naturals ahead, took the loss for the Missions.
The win was not without drama, however, as the Missions scored three times in the bottom of the ninth off of Naturals' reliever Chris Hayes. Sogard singled with one out and was driven in by Baxter who led the Missions with two RBI on the night. After Craig Cooper fanned for the frame's second out, Mitch Canham reached on an error by second baseman Kurt Mertins to score Cedric Hunter, who had singled earlier. A single by Seth Johnston scored Baxter and brought the tying run to the plate, but Hayes was able to retire Sam Carter to end the game.
The Naturals face the Missions in the rubber game of the series Saturday night. Right-hander Blake Wood takes the hill for the Naturals while the Missions' counter with right-hander Cesar Carrillo.
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 home opener is Thursday, April 16th against the San Antonio Missions. 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.
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