Naturals capitalize on Travs' mistakes
June 26, 2010 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - Johnny Giavotella drove in four runs and the Naturals scored nine unanswered runs en route to a 9-2 victory over their in-state rival Arkansas Travelers. The Travs (2-2, 28-46) committed five errors on the night, three by shortstop Kevin Ramos. That opened the door for the Naturals to score eight unearned runs after the Travs were staked to a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
Jeremy Moore's two-run homer scored Ramos in the first and gave the Travs that 2-0 lead. But North Little Rock got just two more hits the next six innings off of Naturals' starter Aaron Crow (5-6), who had his best start in over a month.
Crow worked seven innings, allowing just four hits, two walks, and the two runs off of Moore's homer.
Meanwhile, the Travs' defense completely collapsed behind young starter Tyler Chatwood (0-2), who pitched 5 2/3 innings and was charged with eight runs in total, although only one was earned. He walked four and didn't record a strikeout in his second Texas League start since his promotion from the Class-A California League.
The Naturals (3-1, 45-29) got three runs across in the top of the second, making the Travs' lead short-lived. Travs' second baseman Abel Nieves misplayed a grounder off the bat of Tim Smith with two out, allowing Smith to reach base. Smith then swiped second, and Anthony Seratelli walked. Chris McConnell followed and hit a hard liner that was deflected off the glove of Ramos, the shortstop, and into left to score Smith. Derrick Robinson followed and singled to load the bases, and then Giavotella hit a two-run single to put the Naturals up 3-2.
Smith reached on a throwing error by Ramos and went on to score on a fielder's choice in the fourth to put the Naturals up 4-2, and Giavotella plated two more runs in the inning to make it a 6-2 ballgame.
Smith again led off for the sixth and singled and swiped second. He moved to third on a bunt and came in on a sacrifice fly by McConnell. That was the lone earned run charged to Chatwood. Derrick Robinson singled and Giavotella worked a walk before Chatwood was lifted in favor of lefty Robert Fish. Mike Moustakas followed and reached on another error by Ramos as Robinson scampered home to put the Naturals up 8-2.
The errors continued in the seventh. Paulo Orlando reached on a dropped fly by Moore, the Travs' left fielder. Orlando came around to score on another error by Ramos, when he misplayed a grounder from McConnell that would have ended the frame.
That made it 9-2 in favor of the Naturals, and Everett Teaford and Rowdy Hardy held the Travs to just one hit the last two innings.
Northwest Arkansas will try and make it three in a row Sunday as right-hander Eduardo Paulino (5-3, 4.19) starts for the Naturals opposite left-hander Trevor Reckling for the Travs. Reckling was a Texas League All-Star last season but is making his Double-A debut for this year after struggling the first half of the season with Triple-A Salt Lake. You can listen to the action live on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.
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. You can purchase tickets and group outings with the Naturals by calling (479) 927-4900.
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Texas League Stories from June 26, 2010
- RoughRiders Top Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals capitalize on Travs' mistakes - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Five Errors Leads To 9-2 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Win Shootout 12-9 - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Hold on for 6-5 Win - Tulsa Drillers
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