Naturals Defeat Travelers Before Sellout Crowd
Published on June 13, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - In a battle between the top two teams in the Texas League North Division, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (36-25) defeated the Arkansas Travelers (31-29) on Saturday night by the score of 3-2 before a sellout crowd of 7,512. Naturals' left fielder Lane Adams launched a solo home run in the third and again in the eighth to power the Naturals' offense past Arkansas in the win.
With the game tied at 2-2, Lane Adams stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out against the Travelers left-handed reliever Chris O'Grady. Adams connected on a 1-0 pitch and drove it over the left field wall and into the Bud Light Bullpen Café for a solo home run to put the Naturals in front for good at 3-2.
The Travelers struck first in the top half of the first inning when Blake Gailen singled to score Eric Stamets to give Arkansas an early 1-0 lead. The Travelers would add another run in the third inning on a solo home run by Brian Hernandez to extend their lead to 2-0.
The Naturals cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the third inning when Lane Adams launched his first homer, a solo shot, off the Travelers starter RHP Nate Smith to left field and into the visiting bullpen to cut the Naturals deficit to 2-1. Smith pitched well for Arkansas as he worked 6.2 innings while giving up two earned runs on five hits, no walks, and a strikeout.
The Naturals would go on to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom half of the seventh inning on a one out single by Bubba Starling to score Balbino Fuenmayor following his second double of the night to lead off the frame. That set the stage for Adams' heroics with the solo home run in the following inning to ultimately give the Naturals the 3-2 win. Adams finished the game going 2 for 4 out of the leadoff spot with the two solo home runs (3, 4) and Fuenmayor went 2 for 3 with the two doubles, his 16 and 17 on the year.
RHP Matt Murray (5-1 3.93 ERA) received the win for the Naturals while working 5.0 innings of shutout relief while giving up two hits, no walks, while striking out two. RHP Miguel Almonte got the start for Northwest Arkansas and went 4.0 innings giving up two runs on five hits, one walk, and struck out a batter. LHP Chris O'Grady (0-2 1.63 ERA) was tagged with the loss for the Travelers.
The win in front of the sellout crowd of 7, 512, the Naturals largest crowd of the year and second crowd of over 7,000, gives the first place Naturals a 4.5 game lead over the second place Travelers with only nine games left to play in the first half of the season. The winner of the first half is guaranteed a spot in the Texas League Playoffs when they begin on Wednesday, September 9. With the win, the Naturals also improve to a perfect 9-0, 5-0 at Arvest Ballpark, over their in-state rivals on the year.
Northwest Arkansas will continue their series against the Travelers tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. and it is a Royals-Themed Naturals Cap Giveaway presented by OC Sports on Kids Eat FREE Family Sunday featuring a Post-Game Catch on the Field. The Naturals will send RHP J.C. Sulbaran (4-4, 3.30 ERA) to face RHP Kyle McGowin (4-3, 4.94 ERA) of the Travs.
You can catch all the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for Naturals baseball on KQSM 92.1 The Ticket at 1:50 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to the game against Arkansas.
Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @nwanaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime for all of our up-to-date information on tickets, groups, promotions, roster, and team information.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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