TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Unable to Hold off Springfield Rally

Published on June 14, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- Ruben Gotay hit two two-run home runs from both sides of the plate in the final two innings as the Springfield Cardinals rallied for an 8-4 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in front of a sellout crowd at Arvest Ballpark on Friday night.

The Naturals broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh on Orlando Calixte's third home run of the season to center field. The advantage was short-lived, however, as Mike O'Neil reached on a leadoff walk to start the eighth before Gotay hit his first two-run home run from the right side of the plate to give Springfield a 4-3 lead. The Cardinals added two more runs on a two-out double by Cody Stanley to give them a 6-3 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth.

Springfield used the same formula on Gotay's first home run for his second. O'Neil reached on a walk to start the inning before Gotay hit his second home run of the night, this one from the left side of the plate bouncing off of the right field foul pole to give the Cardinals an 8-3 lead. Gotay finished with five RBI as he hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score O'Neil for Springfield's first run of the game.

The Naturals took a 1-0 lead in the second as Mitch Canham led off with single and scored on a Roman Hernandez triple. Springfield tied the game on Gotay's Sacrifice Fly in the third.

Both teams scored runs on sacrifice flies in the fifth. Springfield got a one-out double from O'Neil, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a James Ramsey sacrifice fly. The Naturals tied the game at two as Orlando Calixte led off with a single, advanced to third on a Matt Fields single and scored on a sacrifice fly from Cheslor Cuthbert.

Calixte and Brian Fletcher each had three hits for the Naturals, with Hernandez and Brett Eibner having a pair of hits. The Naturals finished with 14 hits, but were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Kevin Thomas earns his third win of the season. Thomas allowed one run on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts in two innings. Seth Blair gave up 10 hits, but limited the Naturals to two runs with six strikeouts in six innings.

Jon Keck takes his second loss of the year for Northwest Arkansas. Keck allowed three runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout in one-third of an inning. Brooks Pounders allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.

The Naturals conclude an eight-day homestand with a doubleheader against the Cardinals at 5 p.m. Andy Ferguson (1-0, 4.94 ERA) is scheduled to start the first game for the Naturals. He will be opposed by Nick Greenwood (1-4, 4.94 ERA). The starters for game two have not been announced.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 14, 2013


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