TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Earn Split with Series Finale Win

Published on June 22, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (2-0, 31-41) earned a series split and improved to 2-0 in the second half of the season with an 8-6 win over the Arkansas Travelers (0-2, 32-40) on Wednesday at Arvest Ballpark. On the afternoon, Ryan O'Hearn of the Naturals extended his season-best hitting streak to 14 games by going 1-for-3 with a single.

After scoring nine runs on Tuesday night, the Northwest Arkansas offense picked up right where it left off by plating eight runs and pounding out 14 hits in today's victory. All nine hitters in the lineup recorded a hit while Mauricio Ramos, Frank Schwindel, Jack Lopez, and Terrance Gore had multi-hit games. Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon made his fourth consecutive start for the Naturals and went 1-for-4 with a single and two runs scored. During his rehab stint with Northwest Arkansas, he has gone 5-for-15 with a home run, double, and two RBI while starting three games in left field and one at designated-hitter.

The scoring in the ballgame began as the bottom of the Naturals lineup got them on the board in the second inning. Lopez provided a two out RBI single to score Schwindel then Gore brought Lopez home with a RBI triple down the line in left for an early 2-0 lead. The Travelers would tie the game at 2-2 in the third on back-to-back run scoring singles by Alex Yarbrough and Eric Aguilera. The Naturals though would have an answer in the home half of the third as O'Hearn collected a single that scored Gordon to give Northwest Arkansas a 3-2 advantage. The current 14-game hitting streak for O'Hearn is only three shy of the longest streak in the Texas League this season of 17-games set by Harrison Bader of Springfield and Ryan Cordell of Frisco.

Northwest Arkansas extended their lead to 5-2 in the fifth behind a couple of two-out RBI singles by Schwindel and Allan de San Miguel. However, the Travelers would score two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game at 5-5. With the game still tied, Moon delivered the game-winning hit with a two-out single to score O'Hearn and Schwindel for a 7-5 lead after seven complete frames. Both teams would add another run to set the final score at 8-6. The entire Naturals lineup was clutch as six of the Naturals eight runs in the game were from two-out hits while seven different hitters recorded a RBI in the contest.

RHP Evan Beal (3-2, 3.44 ERA) got the win while RHP Mark Peterson (S, 1) pitched a perfect ninth for the save. Texas League North Division All-Star RHP Jake Junis got the start and struck out seven in 5.2 innings but did not factor into the decision.

Today's game concluded the Naturals 8-game homestand. Northwest Arkansas will hit the road tomorrow night for a 4-game series in Tulsa against the Drillers before getting three days off for the Texas League All-Star break from June 27 through June 29. The Naturals will send LHP Matt Strahm (2-6, 3.09 ERA) while the Double-A Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to announce a starting pitcher. You can catch all the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on KQSM 92.1 The Ticket at 6:45 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from June 22, 2016


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.

OurSports Central