Naturals Fall in the Series Finale
Published on July 4, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Matt Murray was spectacular in the back end of the bullpen on Friday night but the Naturals' (7-8, 32-53) dropped the series finale to the Midland RockHounds (7-7, 45-39) 6-0 in front of a sold out crowd of 7,750 at Arvest Ballpark on the Fourth of July.
The RockHounds plated six runs through the second through sixth innings en route to their victory, but the Naturals pitching staff did combine to strikeout out 13 hitters during the contest. Northwest Arkansas starter, LHP Sam Selman, fanned six batters over his four and a third innings of work while RHP Angel Baez punched out three hitters through an inning and two-thirds and Murray struck out four. They were three strikeouts shy of the single-season mark of 16 strikeouts compiled on May 3 against Arkansas, though that was a 15-inning game.
Murray came in at the onset of the seventh inning and tossed three scoreless innings of relief allowing just two hits. He has been very good of late surrendering just one run through his last seven and a third innings of work over four appearances (1.22 ERA).
Angel Franco went 1-for-4 on the night and has collected a base hit in 11 of his last 12 games. During that stretch he has tallied seven multi-hit games. The Royals' fourth-ranked prospect, Jorge Bonifacio, recorded his 20th multi-hit game of the season collecting two hits in four at-bats.
RHP Sean Murphy (3-0) earned the win for Midland tossing seven scoreless innings while striking out nine, his highest strikeout total of 2014 with the RockHounds. Selman suffered the loss falling to 3-6 on the year. Hiro Nakajima drove in three runs during a four-hit night for Midland while Blake Forsythe drove in two on three hits.
The Royals' 10th-ranked prospect, RHP Christian Binford, will make his Double-A debut for Northwest Arkansas tomorrow, Saturday, July 5 with The Great American Blast Finale Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular presented by Castrol. The Frisco RoughRiders will counter with RHP Alec Asher (7-6, 3.12) for the series opener. The first pitch in scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
You can catch all live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for the Naturals 92.1 the Ticket at 6:50 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch.
Texas League Stories from July 4, 2014
- Drillers Lose Game and Series to Missions - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Fall in the Series Finale - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RoughRiders Achieve Split with Comeback Win - Arkansas Travelers
- RoughRiders Rally and Sweep Series - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks Take the 4th of July Series Finale - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Complete Sweep Before Record Crowd - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Overbeck Powers Missions to 7-4 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Four Moves on the Fourth for the RoughRiders - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Fourth of July Game Sold Out - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Waste 16 Hits in Extra-Inning Loss - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Outlast Missions in Extras - San Antonio Missions
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