Naturals' Early Deficit Proves Costly Thursday
Published on August 11, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
FRISCO, TX - Attempting to overcome an early four-run deficit, the Naturals climbed to within a run of the Frisco RoughRiders in the top of the sixth inning but ultimately fell short, dropping a 7-4 decision at Dr. Pepper Ballpark on Thursday night.
Each team had opportunities to get on the board near the beginning of the game, but only Frisco (24-22, 64-52) was able to take advantage. In the bottom of the first, Chris Dwyer (6-10) set down the first two batters he faced but then allowed a single and a double before hitting a batter to load the bases.
Dwyer then walked Jonathan Greene and Engel Beltre in succession, forcing home a pair of runs. Though Davis Stoneburner then flied out to end the inning - leaving the bases still loaded - Frisco had an early 2-0 edge.
The RoughRiders again generated two-out offense in the bottom of the fourth, collecting four hits in the frame. Mitch Hilligoss doubled home Beltre and two batters later, Elio Sarmiento brought in Hilligoss with a single that pushed the score to 4-0.
As Frisco built this early lead, the Naturals (23-23, 58-55) had their share of baserunners. Northwest Arkansas accumulated three hits and two walks off of starter Neil Ramirez in the game's first three innings but could not deliver with runners in scoring position.
Richard Bleier (5-7) replaced Ramirez to begin the fourth and loaded the bases with one out. But after a mound visit, Bleier got Ryan Eigsti to ground into an inning-ending double play, keeping the Naturals off the board. Bleier then went on to toss a scoreless top of the fifth.
Northwest Arkansas broke through in the top of the sixth against Fabio Castillo, as Nick Francis and Rey Navarro each singled with one out. After a passed ball moved the runners to second and third, Mario Lisson brought Francis home with an RBI groundout. Eigsti then followed by cranking a two-run homer that brought the Naturals within a run, 4-3.
But the one-run deficit was short-lived, as the RoughRiders answered in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs off of reliever Kevin Chapman. Hilligoss singled to lead off the inning before Sarmiento launched his fifth home run of the season to give Frisco a 6-3 lead.
Making his first Double-A appearance since returning from the disabled list, Buddy Baumann allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh. Though the southpaw recovered to toss a scoreless eighth, Frisco's late lead proved too much to overcome.
Jeff Bianchi made the score 7-4 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, but the Naturals never sent the tying run to the plate in the final inning, as Jamie Romak flied to left to end the game.
In the loss, Rey Navarro posted a three-hit game while Wil Myers and Anthony Seratelli notched two hits apiece in what was a 12-hit performance for the Natural offense. Aside from Eigsti's homer, however, none of those hits went for extra bases.
The Naturals will look to snap their three-game losing streak and salvage the final game of this series on Friday night. Right-hander Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 5.31) takes the mound looking for his first win in three starts. He'll face Frisco's Ben Snyder (8-4, 4.57), with the first pitch from Dr. Pepper Ballpark set for just after 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.
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