TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Drop Return to Missions, 7-2

Published on June 28, 2018 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark - Fresh off a three-day break for the Texas League All-Star Game in Midland, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (1-4, 36-39) returned to Arvest Ballpark on Thursday night but would drop the opener to the San Antonio Missions (4-3, 46-31) by a 7-2 final. Naturals' second baseman Jecksson Flores led the way offensively going 3-for-4 with a solo home run.

San Antonio raced out to an early lead in the top of the first against Naturals' starter Foster Griffin. Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Josh Naylor opened the game with singles before Austin Allen brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field for the 1-0 lead.

Northwest Arkansas would tie it up at 1-1 in the second as Anderson Miller launched a towering solo shot over the wall in right. The home run was Miller's ninth on the year, putting him one shy of the team-lead (10) held by infielder/outfielder Alex Liddi.

Griffin (L, 3-9) cruised through the early frames as the tall left-hander sat down eight in a row at one point in the game from the third inning through the end of the fifth. He would ultimately run into trouble though in the sixth as the Missions' offense came alive. Naylor started the inning off with a double and moved to third on an error before scoring on an Allen RBI single. Kyle Overstreet then singled to put runners on first and second before Matthew Bratten drove in a run with a single to right. The big blow would come with two outs and off the bat of Michael Gettys as he hit a three-run homer for a commanding 6-1 lead.

The Naturals would plate another run in the eighth as Flores connected on his sixth home run of the year, a solo shot to left, but that would be it on offense for Northwest Arkansas as San Antonio scored an unearned run in the ninth to set the final at 7-2.

Miguel Diaz (W, 3-2) earned the win for the Missions while Lake Bachar (S, 1) picked up his first save of the year. Naturals' reliever Franco Terrero was a bright spot as he limited the visitors to a single hit and an unearned run over 3.0 innings of work.

The offense was held in check outside of Flores' three-hit game and the solo home runs by Flores and Miller. Newcomer Kort Peterson picked up a single in his Arvest Ballpark debut while Kelvin Gutierrez went 0-for-4 in his first home game of the year.

Northwest Arkansas will continue their series against the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A Affiliate of the San Diego Padres, with Game 2 of this 3-game set tomorrow night - Friday, June 29 - with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. for Superhero Night featuring a Kids Cape Giveaway on Fireworks Friday presented by Arkansas Children's Northwest. The game will also be the third Arkansas Children's Northwest (ACNW) Fan Day of the 2018 season where the Naturals, Missions, and Arvest Ballpark crowd will wave to the patients and their families at ACNW after the completion of the first inning. The Naturals will send RHP Arnaldo Hernandez to the hill where he'll make his first start for Northwest Arkansas while the Missions will counter with RHP Jesse Scholtens (5-1, 2.40 ERA). Catch all the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on KQSM - 92.1 The Ticket starting at 6:45 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Facebook and Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the 2018 season of Naturals baseball.

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.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 28, 2018


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