TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Still Have Travs Number

Published on July 22, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS - The Arkansas Travelers continued their struggles against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Wednesday night, falling for the sixth straight game to their in-state rivals by a 6-5 final score. The Travs rallied for three runs in the ninth inning but came up short in suffering their 27th loss by one run. Naturals shortstop Jeff Bianchi continued his domination of Travs pitching with three singles and two RBI. The loss is the Travs' ninth in ten games and their 14th loss in the last 16 meetings with Northwest Arkansas.

Right hander Tommy Mendoza (L, 6-6) lost his second start in a row in his shortest appearance in 12 starts. Lasting just 5.1 innings, Mendoza allowed five runs (four earned) on nine base hits, three walks and six strikeouts. Naturals starter Anthony Lerew (W, 5-5) earned his third win over the Travelers in a 6.2 inning appearance where he allowed two runs on five base hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

Northwest Arkansas wasted no time in grabbing the lead against Mendoza sending ten batters to the plate in a four-run first inning. Jarrod Dyson hit a leadoff single then stole second base. After a walk, Mendoza gave up a soft RBI single to Jeff Bianchi scoring Dyson. A one-out single by David Lough loaded the bases, and two runs scored when Vance Wilson singled to center for a 3-0 NWA lead. CodyStrait followed with a hard line drive right at third baseman Wil Ortiz, who dropped the ball for a run-scoring error.

The Travs answered with one run in the top of the second inning as Chris Gutierrez slapped a one-out double and scored on a single by Ryan Mount.

Trumbo opened the top of the fourth inning with a home run to right field bringing the Travs within a 4-2 score. They got the tying run at bat when Jeremy Moore singled, but he was doubled off first base after forgetting the number of outs on Ryan Mount's pop up.

Mendoza fired four shutout innings after the first, but Cody Clark began the second inning with a double. After a one-out walk to Dyson, Mendoza left the game in favor of David Herndon. The first batter faced by Herndon, Kurt Mertins, hit a hard shot between Trumbo's legs at first base and into right field. Jeremy Moore pegged Clark at the plate, but that still didn't keep the Naturals from scoring. Bianchi collected his third hit of the game, a two-out single to left field scoring Dyson for a 5-2 advantage.

Bianchi is batting .571 (16-28) with eight RBI in seven games against the Travelers.

Corey Smith increased the Naturals' lead to 6-2, and took over the Texas League home run lead, when he homered off Herndon leading off the seventh inning.

The Travs had seen 11 consecutive batters retired before the ninth inning. Right handed reliever Aaron Hartsock replaced Lerew in the seventh inning with two outs and set down four straight batters heading into the ninth. He opened up the last inning with a four-pitch walk to Hank Conger. Trumbo singled to right field then Moore took ball one before Hartsock was relieved by left-hander Gilbert de la Vara. Moore slugged a drive to the top of the centerfield wall for a two-run triple then scored when Gutierrez grounded out to first base. Mount struck out, and de la Vara ended the game (sv, 1) by getting Flint Wipke to line out to center.

Time of game was 2:40 and the paid attendance was 5,222.

The Travs play at Arvest Ballpark for the final time during the 2009 season on Thursday night sending left hander Trevor Reckling (5-3, 2.66) to the mound. The Naturals counter with righty Blake Johnson (6-5, 4.80).

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 22, 2009


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