TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Can't Hold onto Lead

Published on May 27, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Frisco, TX - The Naturals lost the lead late in the game, as the RoughRiders came away with an 8-5 win Thursday night.

Frisco (27-19) got their offense going early scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Matthew Lawson hit a solo home run with one out, which gave the RoughRiders the first run of the game. Wes Bankston doubled with two outs to keep the inning going. Joey Butler then brought Bankston home with a single to left field. The runs gave Frisco the early two run advantage.

The Naturals (28-17) responded with their first run in the top of the third. Tim Smith and Paulo Orlando got the inning going with back-to-back singles. Chris McConnell then moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Derrick Robinson was then able to bring Smith home with a sacrifice fly to left field. The run cut the RoughRiders lead to just one.

Up just one, Frisco came back in the bottom of the third with a run of their own. Lawson doubled to lead off the inning, and Emerson Frostad followed with a base hit that put runners on the corners. Bankston then brought Lawson home with a sacrifice fly to left. The run extended Frisco's lead to two.

The Naturals did not go away, as they scored four unanswered runs to take the lead. Ernesto Mejia led the fifth inning off in style with a solo home run to left. The shot was Mejia's seventh of the season, and cut the Frisco lead to just one. Derrick Robinson led the sixth inning off with a double to right field. With one out Anthony Seratelli singled, which scored Robinson, and tied the game at 3-3.With Seratelli on base, and two outs, Manny Pina crushed a home run over the left field wall. The shot was Pina's fourth of the year, and it gave the Naturals their first lead at 5-3.

Frisco, would not go quietly as they cam back in the bottom half of the sixth. Taylor Teagarden hit a one out single to center to reach base. Elio Sarmiento brought Teagarden home with a double to center field.

Down by one, Frisco tied the game up in the bottom of the seventh. Frostad was the first batter to reach base when he was walked with two outs. Bankston then doubled to left, which scored Frostad, and tied the game up.

With the game tied at five, Frisco broke loose late with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Teagarden led the eighth off with a triple to center field. Sarmiento was then hit by a pitch with one out, which put runners on the corners. James Tomlin then doubled, and scored Teagarden while advancing Sarmiento to third. After Lawson was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases, Frostad singled to left. The base hit brought both Sarmiento and Tomlin home, and the urns gave the RoughRIders the lead for good.

Rowdy Hardy (0-1) suffered the loss as well as a blown save for the Naturals. Hardy pitched an inning and a third, and he gave up four earned runs. Mike Montgomery started the game for the Naturals and pitched a no decision. Montgomery threw jus three innings, gave up three earned runs, and struck out three.

Ben Snyder (1-2) picked up the win for the RoughRIders. Snyder pitched an inning and a third, and was the pitcher when Frisco took the lead for the final time. Tanner Roark started the game for Frisco and threw a no decision. Roark pitched five and two thirds, gave up five earned runs, and struck out six. Cody Epply recorded his fourth save of the season as well.

The Naturals will look to avoid the sweep, as the close out their series with Frisco Friday night. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m., and you can listen to game live on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from May 27, 2010


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