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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals complete rare five-game sweep

June 13, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- Just like last season, the Naturals' offense arrived in the same inning as the Famous "San Diego" Chicken.

After staking Michael Anton and the Arkansas Travelers to an early 3-1 lead, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals scored 11 unanswered runs en route to a 16-6 drubbing of the Travs. Ed Lucas led the attack with a career-high six RBI as the Naturals tied a franchise-record in runs scored. They scored 16 runs once before, last July 8th in a 16-10 home win over Corpus Christi.

The Travelers got the scoring started Saturday, plating an unearned run in the first when Nate Sutton was able to get across on a fielding error by Naturals' shortstop Chris McConnell. Northwest Arkansas would quickly answer back with an RBI single by Jordan Parraz which extended his franchise-best hitting streak to 17 games.

Arkansas got two more in the second. Consecutive singles by Jay Caligiuri and Hainley Statia both turned into runs when Coby Smith doubled in Caligiuri and Statia crossed the plate on a groundout by Wil Ortiz. That was all that the Travs would get for the next five frames.

Out came the Chicken in the third in his customary position coaching first base for an inning. Travs' starter Michael Anton (1-6) got two quick outs but then plunked Corey Smith, which seemed to open the floodgates for the Naturals. Brian McFall followed with a single to left and Ed Lucas followed with a moon shot past the left field Bullpen Café to stake the Naturals to a 4-3 lead. They led the rest of the way.

Four runs came across for the Naturals in the fourth as they chased Anton, who was charged with seven runs, five earned, on six hits. He walked four batters against only one strikeout. Chris McConnell and Jose Duarte scored on a throwing error by Travs' shortstop Wil Ortiz, and then Josh Johnson and Jordan Parraz came in on a force out by Brian McFall who reached safely anyhow after Nate Sutton committed a throwing error to home. The error was one of four the Travelers had on the day, and put Northwest Arkansas up 8-3.

The Naturals scored two more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings, which was more than enough to support starter Blake Johnson (4-5), who managed to work around ten hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.

North Little Rock would get three more runs in the top of the eighth off of reliever Carlos Sencion, who pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and was awarded his first save of 2009. The Travelers (23-37) outhit the Naturals 16-14 on the evening, but stranded 12 runners.

The Travelers are now eliminated from first-half playoff contention. After the Springfield Cardinals lost to the Tulsa Drillers Saturday night, the Naturals (32-28) are now just two games off their first-place pace. They begin a four-game series with the third-place Drillers Sunday beginning at 2:30 P.M. Right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (2-6) will go for Northwest Arkansas opposite right-hander Joey Williamson, making his first start in the Texas League.

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 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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Texas League Stories from June 13, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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