TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Perez' Walkoff Hit Clinches Series

Published on July 5, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR - Salvador Perez' two-out single in the bottom of the ninth scored Nick Francis, putting the finishing touches on a scintillating comeback as the Naturals beat Corpus Christi 7-6, taking the final two games of the three game series.

With one out and the game tied at six, Nick Francis got the Naturals a baserunner by singling through the hole at shortstop for his third hit on the night. With Anthony Seratelli at the plate, he swiped second, his second stolen base on the evening, putting himself into scoring position with Seratelli, one of the team's leading RBI men at the plate. Seratelli fanned swinging, and Corpus Christi manager Tom Lawless then called on hard throwing reliever Henry Villar to face Perez, who lined the second pitch he saw from Villar into left-center for the win.

Northwest Arkansas (4-8, 39-40) had to make three comebacks in all to put themselves in position to get the series win. Corpus Christi (5-7, 30-52) got a run across in the first off of struggling Naturals' starter Chris Dwyer, as Jimmy Paredes hit a one out triple and scored on an RBI single from Chris Wallace that put the Hooks up 1-0.

The Naturals would answer back in the bottom of the second as Rey Navarro hit a screaming double down the right-field line to score Anthony Seratelli and tie the ballgame.

The Hooks got a two spot in each the fourth and fifth to jump out to a 5-1 lead. Dwyer walked Brandon Wikoff with one out in the fourth and Jimmy Van Ostrand blasted a two-run shot to put Corpus Christi up by a 3-1 margin. They would then chase Dwyer in the fifth. J.D. Martinez came up with one out and hit a moonshot that went past the bullpen café in left field, and Wallace followed with a walk. After he stole second, Jacob Goebbert doubled him in.

Dwyer finished with six hits allowed and five runs in 4 1/3 frames. He issued five walks and fanned three. Blaine Hardy, returning from Triple-A Omaha for his first Double-A outing in over a year, picked up and put the Hooks' offense on the sidelines, tossing 2 2/3 frames and allowing just a walk.

Meanwhile, the Naturals' offense got busy behind him, getting an RBI single from Nick Francis in the sixth that cut the lead to 5-2 before coming up with a three spot in the seventh. Christian Colon led off with a single and Wil Myers drew a walk from Hooks' reliever Blake King. King was then lifted for Kyle Greenwalt, who couldn't hold the fort. He retired Jeff Bianchi on a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners over 90 feet, but up came Francis, who laced a double to left-center for a pair of runs. Greenwalt then issued a walk to Seratelli to bring up Salvador Perez, who brought home Francis with an RBI single that tied the ballgame.

Kelvin Hererra was summoned to start the eighth for the Naturals and allowed back-to-back singles to start the frame. With runners at the corners, Brandon Wikoff hit a potential sac fly that Francis dropped in left field. Jacob Goebbert scored from third, and, after Jose Vallejo bunted over the two runners, Jimmy Van Ostrand hit a grounder towards third that Rey Navarro was able to spear and get to Perez behind the plate to get T.J. Steele at home.

Herrera then fanned Jonathan Villar, and got some help from Jamie Romak who drilled the first pitch he saw from Greenwalt (2-9) in the eighth on a line to left to re-tie the game. Herrera (3-0) retired the side in order in the ninth and ended up with the win after Perez' walkoff hit.

The Naturals now head into the state of Texas for a six-game road trip that begins with a three-game series with the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Municipal Stadium beginning Thursday night. The Naturals will send out right-hander Jake Odorizzi, the Kansas City Royals' top right-handed pitching prospect, as he makes his highly anticipated Texas League debut opposite right-hander Jorge Reyes (4-2, 3.31). Game time is 7 P.M. and you can hear the action live on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 5, 2011


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