TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Walk-Off a Winner over the Cardinals

Published on August 1, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR - Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Naturals were in search of some late-game heroics. They found them in the form of Parker Morin, the Naturals backstop who homered earlier in the game, as he stepped to the plate with one out and two runners on. The lefty delivered a game-winning, walk-off two run triple off the center field wall that sent the crowd of 5,005 into a frenzy as Northwest Arkansas (13-22, 53-52) defeated the Springfield Cardinals (19-17, 49-57) by the score of 6-5 at Arvest Ballpark.

Bubba Starling started the home half of the ninth with a walk against Cardinals reliever Chris Perry. After an out by Alex Liddi, Frank Schwindel singled through the hole at shortstop moving Starling to second. The Naturals then called upon Kenny Diekroeger to pinch run for Schwindel at first, which set the stage for Morin's game-winning triple. Morin entered the game hitting .516 (16-for-31) on the year against Springfield before adding to that total tonight by going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and a double shy of the cycle.

The Naturals offense got to work early against Cardinals' starter Jimmy Reed as Ramon Torres led things off with a single through the hole on the left side and Raul Mondesi followed suit with an infield single of his own to third. Two batters later Jorge Bonifacio delivered a single up the middle to score Torres, which put the Naturals in front 1-0 in the first. The RBI gave Bonifacio 55 on the season, which is good for fourth most in the Texas League this year and four better than his 2014 total.

Springfield responded quickly with a run of their own as Mike Ohlman led off the second with a single to right-center field before scoring on a double down the left field line by Patrick Wisdom to make it a 1-1 ballgame. The Cardinals and most notably Wisdom continued their offensive ways in the top of the fourth. The Springfield third baseman led off the inning with his second double of the game and would come around to score on a two-out double by Breyvic Valera. Charlie Tilson then singled and moved Valera to third where he would eventually score on a miscue on a pick-off attempt at first base to make it a 3-1 advantage.

The Naturals would cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth inning as Bubba Starling would ignite a two-out rally with a single and would come around to score on a RBI double by Alex Liddi, which was his team-leading 26th double of the year. The offense continued in the fifth as the aforementioned Morin led off the frame with his third home run of the season into the Jack Link's Jerky Grass Berm to tie the game. Two batters later, Lane Adams would connect on a 0-1 off speed pitch and belt it deep over the wall in left-center field to give the Naturals a 4-3 lead. With the homer, the Red Oak, Oklahoma-native extended his hitting streak to 15 games. The 15 game hitting streak by Adams ties the team-high set earlier this year by Mike Bianucci and puts him only three games behind the Texas League high this year of 18 games and only six games shy of Clint Robinson's franchise record of 21 straight games.

Springfield though would answer in the sixth by stringing together three consecutive hits before an RBI force out by Valera tied the game. The Cardinals eventually broke the tie game in the top of the ninth with a RBI single by Anthony Garcia.

RHP Christian Binford got the start for Northwest Arkansas but did not factor into the decision. RHP Kevin McCarthy (1-0, 3.00 ERA) earned the win in his 2015 Naturals debut after being called up from High-A Wilmington earlier in the day. The right-hander threw 3.0 innings giving up four hits and one run while striking out three. Springfield's Chris Perry (0-1, 5.02) took the loss and the blown save.

Northwest Arkansas will go for the split in the series finale against the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, with a 6:05 p.m. game at Arvest Ballpark on Sunday, August 2. Gates will open to the public at 5:00 p.m. for a Naturals' Commemorative Cap Giveaway courtesy of Coca-Cola on Kids Eat FREE Family Sunday featuring Kids Run the Bases Post-Game.

RHP Kyle Zimmer (1-0, 1.65 ERA) will make his first start for the Naturals during the 2015 season on Sunday night after being lights out as a reliever out of the Northwest Arkansas bullpen in recent weeks; Springfield has yet to name a starter for tomorrow night's series finale. Tune in with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, at 5:50 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pre-Game Show leading up to the 6:05 p.m. first pitch at Arvest Ballpark against the Cardinals on the Naturals' flagship station KQSM 92.1 - FM, the Ticket.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from August 1, 2015


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