TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Begin Second Half Tonight

Published on June 18, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark - The first half of the 2013 All-Star Season for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals concluded with a win last night and the Naturals hope to continue that positive momentum beginning with tonight's game against the Arkansas Travelers in North Little Rock. That's because tonight is the first night of the second half of the Texas League season.

After finishing with a 25-45 record in the first half, the Naturals have a renewed shot at making the playoffs as the standings reset at zero. The Naturals enter the second half of the season after winning six of their last 10 games. If the Naturals win the second half, they will play a best of five game series in early September against the Tulsa Drillers, who claimed the first half title last night. Historically, the Naturals have done well in the second half of the season, winning the Texas League North Division second half in four of the franchise's first five years.

The Naturals had several individual highlights in the season's first half. Outfielder Brett Eibner won the Texas League Player of the Week Award for the week of April 15-22, with fellow outfielder Brian Fletcher earning the honors for the week of June 3-10. The Naturals had one of the top pitchers in the Texas League for most of the first half in right-hander Yordano Ventura. Ventura was the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 6-13. Ventura was tied for the league lead with 74 strikeouts at the time of his promotion to Triple-A Omaha on June 3. Slugging first baseman Matt Fields is tied for the league lead with 18 home runs and has hit seven home runs this month. Finally, the Naturals will be well represented at the 77th Annual Texas League All-Star Game presented by Castrol next week, sending Orlando Calixte, Angel Franco, Mitch Canham and Santiago Garrido as a replacement for Ventura to the Texas League's showcase game.

Following two games against the Travelers and a four-game series in Tulsa, the Naturals will begin the home portion of the second half schedule with a six-game homestand next Wednesday beginning with three games against the Midland RockHounds.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 18, 2013


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