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TL Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Parrish Dazzles But Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Wichita

July 11, 2021 - Texas League (TL)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Left-hander Drew Parrish turned in the best start from a Northwest Arkansas Naturals pitcher this season, tossing seven scoreless innings, but four runs in the ninth was not enough for the Naturals in a 5-4 loss to the Wichita Wind Surge Saturday night.

Parrish is the first Naturals pitcher to complete seven innings this season, going one out further than Jonathan Heasley did on May 28 against San Antonio. Parrish struck out nine across his 7.0 scoreless frames, retiring the first 10 batters he faced and surrendering just two hits. He faced only three over the minimum, also not walking a batter.

While the left-hander was sensational, the Naturals were unable to get a runner past second base while he was on the mound. Clay Dungan turned in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with singles in the first and sixth and Northwest Arkansas also got hits from Dennicher Carrasco, MJ Melendez (MLB Pipeline's No. 13 Royals' prospect) and Kevin Merrell, but did not score a run to support Parrish through eight innings and the game was scoreless though 7 1/2.

Led by a grand slam, Wichita struck Naturals reliever Robert Garcia for five runs in the eighth inning, though Garcia struck out the final two batters of the inning to send the game to the ninth.

As has been the case for much of the 2021 season, the Northwest Arkansas offense did not go down without a strong fight. Dairon Blanco led off the ninth inning with a single and two hits later, scored on a Brhet Bewley single. Both Bewley and Brewer Hicklen (MLB Pipeline's No. 24 Royals' prospect) crossed home after a Blake Perkins triple, which at the time brought the tying run to the plate with only one out in the frame.

Merrell grounded out to score Perkins from third but the Naturals couldn't find the last run they needed, dropping the first game of their series with Wichita, 5-4.

Back in a tie for first place in the Double-A Central North Division with Wichita (32-27), Northwest Arkansas (31-26) will look to regain sole possession of the top spot with a 1:05 p.m. start against the Wind Surge on Sunday in the series finale.

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