TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals' Bats on Ice Again Monday

Published on June 27, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - The Naturals were able to get the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but came up short as the Travelers prevailed for a 3-0 shutout in a matinee Monday afternoon at Dickey-Stephens Ballpark.

Facing Travelers' closer Ryan Brasier, looking for his 15th save on the season, the Naturals were down 3-0 and needing baserunners. Brasier got Jamie Romak to quickly groundout and Mario Lisson popped out, but Ben Theriot and Nick Van Stratten drew back-to-back walks to bring up Derrick Robinson representing the tying run. But Brasier got Robinson to line sharply to left to end the ballgame.

Things might have been looking promising for the Naturals offensively after Travelers' starter Orangel Arenas, named to the Texas League's mid-season All-Star squad, left the game after an inning with back spasms. But the 7-foot-1 Loek Van Mil (2-2), on for some long relief, kept the Naturals shackled for four innings, getting credited with the win.

Luis Jimenez' two-out double gave the Travelers the early lead. Van Stratten made a quick throw on it from left field and with assistance from Christian Colon at shortstop they cut down Gabe Jacobo trying to come in as the Travs' second run.

Clay Fuller doubled with two out in the second for North Little Rock (6-0, 42-31) and came home on an RBI single from Jon Townsend.

Northwest Arkansas (1-5, 36-37) was able to hold the Travs in check from there, but the Travs plated an insurance run off of a couple of defensive miscues by the Naturals in the sixth. Gabe Jacobo reached on a fielding error by Naturals' third baseman Mario Lisson, and then the next batter, Luis Jimenez, reached also when Naturals' reliever Heath Rollins' uncorked an errant throw to first. That allowed Jacobo to reach third, and he'd come in on a sacrifice fly from Alberto Rosario which put the Travs up 3-0.

Will Smith (5-7) took the loss for the Naturals, tossing five innings and allowing seven hits, two runs, and three walks. He struck out four batters.

Theriot had two of the Naturals' four hits, as the Naturals left ten runners on base and failed to record a hit in ten trips to the plate with runners in scoring position.

The Naturals now get a much needed respite with the All-Star Break. No games are scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday, although six Naturals' players as well as the Naturals' coaching staff will be headed to San Antonio, TX to compete for the North Division in the circuit's mid-summer classic. The league schedule gets back underway Thursday night at 7 as the Naturals face the San Antonio Missions at Arvest Ballpark. The game broadcast for both the All-Star Game (Wednesday at 7) and Thursday night will be on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 27, 2011


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