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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals outlast Drillers in 12 innings

August 30, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- Corey Smith's two out single in the bottom of the 12th scored Jeff Bianchi and made the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 2-1 winners over the Tulsa Drillers on Sunday afternoon at Arvest Ballpark.

With one out in the frame, Jeff Bianchi doubled to left for the Naturals fifth hit on the day and just the second extra-base knock of the afternoon. Ed Lucas followed and drew a walk off Drillers' reliever Shane Lindsay. Lindsay (2-1) got David Lough to pop out on an infield fly for the second out before Tulsa skipper Ron Gideon summoned their All-Star closer Andrew Johnston from the 'pen.

Johnston, who entered the ballgame with seven saves against Northwest Arkansas and a 1.35 ERA against the Naturals this season, got two quick strikes against Corey Smith, the first batter he faced. Smith then worked the count even and drove the next pitch into the gap in right-center field for the game winner.

Pitching and defense set the tone early. Against Drillers' starter Chaz Roe, the Naturals got very little to work with but made the most of what they got when it counted most. Conversely, Naturals' starting pitcher Everett Teaford worked hitters deep into counts, walked some guys, allowed some hits, but made pitches when it counted and used his defense to help him strand Driller runners in several innings. Teaford and the Naturals defense stranded seven runners over his five innings of work including two runners in each of his final three innings of work.

The Naturals offense, while slow to untrack, got on the board in the fourth. Jeff Bianchi beat out an infield single to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a balk. With one out, David Lough tripled deep down the right field line for the 1-0 lead.

Teaford lasted through the fifth. He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out four. Chad Orvella came in and, in his first appearance since July 20th, shut down the Drillers' offense in the seventh and eighth.

Ironically, while it was defensive highlights that would help the Naturals preserve their chances to win in extra frames, it was a defensive miscue, combined with wildness on the part of Naturals' reliever Juan Abreu, that opened the door for Tulsa. Leading off the eighth, Drillers' shortstop Rex Rundgren reached on an error by Naturals' shortstop Jeff Bianchi. Michael Paulk singled him over to second, and the next batter, Darin Holcomb, got both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Abreu then walked Jeff Kindel intentionally and then fanned Ryan Harvey for the inning's second out. Tulsa's next batter, Daniel Mayora, also worked a walk to bring in the tying run. Abreu got Brad Corley to look at strike three to end the frame, but Tulsa got the run across as the leadoff error came back to haunt the Naturals.

Roe, the Drillers' starter, departed in the eighth after allowing a one-out single to Cody Clark. Southpaw Matt Reynolds came on and fanned Jarrod Dyson and then Jeff Howell, pinch running for Clark, was thrown out attempting to steal second. In 7 1/3 innings, Roe allowed the Naturals four hits and the one run. He fanned seven and only walked one.

Drillers' backstop Dayton Buller led off the ninth and in a scary moment, was plunked hard in the helmet by a 92 MPH fastball from Abreu. Buller was okay and took first, and Abreu was able to get Anthony Jackson to pop out attempting a bunt. Rundgren followed and grounded out, moving Buller to second. The Naturals elected to intentionally walk Michael Paulk, which didn't hurt them as Abreu fanned Darin Holcomb to end the frame. Reynolds, the Drillers' southpaw, got the Naturals in order to send the game to extras.

In the tenth, the defense took over as southpaw Ben Swaggerty came on for the Naturals. Ryan Harvey singled with one out and was removed in favor of pinch runner Daniel Carte. Carte was promptly picked off for the second out, and, after Daniel Mayora worked a walk, Brad Corley flied out to right to end the frame.

The shining moment for the defense came in the top of the 12th, however. Darin Holcomb led off with a double down the left field line and was moved to third on a groundout by Jeff Kindel. Daniel Carte followed and chopped a liner to third which Kurt Mertins made a nice play on, holding Holcomb at third and managing to get the throw to Corey Smith at first base for the second out. Daniel Mayora followed and sent a hard grounder toward the hole. Mertins scrambled to reach the ball and got the throw off in time to barely beat Mayora coming down the first base bag to save the run.

That set the stage for the second walkoff hit on this homestand for Northwest Arkansas (34-28, 70-62) and made a winner of Ben Swaggerty (4-1), who, aided by his defense, lasted three innings out of the 'pen, allowing just two hits and a walk. Shane Lindsay, who allowed Bianchi's one-out double in the 12th, took the loss for the Drillers (32-30, 70-62).

The Naturals now possess a two-game lead for first place in the Texas League North Division. These two teams will play the final game of the three-game series Monday night at 7 P.M. Right-hander Federico Castaneda (0-2, 3.10) is slated to start for the Naturals against right-hander Andy Graham (3-4, 4.48) for Tulsa.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.

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Texas League Stories from August 30, 2009


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