Pitching Solid as Naturals Top Midland
Published on June 6, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR - Mike Moustakas had three RBI and Blake Johnson tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run as the Naturals held Midland to just four hits en route to a 6-1 win Sunday evening at Arvest Ballpark.
Making just his second start for the Naturals this season, Johnson, the Naturals' career leader in games started, allowed the four hits and just one run, an RBI double by Jeff Baisley in the sixth. Unfortunately, that tied the game at one and he ended up with the no-decision.
Johnson deftly worked himself out of the only jam he faced, which came in the first inning. The first two batters he faced in the Midland first inning, J.C. Holt and Josh Horton both singled. He got Alex Valdez to ground into a force out, putting runners at the corners. He walked Baisley to load the bases, and then got Corey Brown to ground into the 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.
Ben Swaggerty (2-2) relived Johnson after he was lifted with two out in the sixth and he got Brown to line out to right to end the inning. He went on to hold the RockHounds (25-30) hitless the rest of the way, picking up the win.
Northwest Arkansas (32-22) broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth, getting consecutive RBI singles from Chris McConnell and Paulo Orlando. That made it 3-1, but Midland was able to stop the bleeding when they picked off McConnell trying to swipe third, and then got Anthony Seratelli to fly out to center.
The Naturals tacked on three more runs in the eighth off of Midland reliever Jared Lansford. Tim Smith singled to leadoff the frame and moved to second when Lansford issued a walk to McConnell. Derrick Robinson then dropped an excellent bunt past the pitchers mound that stopped short of the edge of the infield grass. He reached first easily, loading the bases for Seratelli.
Seratelli appeared to work the count full but struck out in a lengthy at-bat that was quite controversial. Midland skipper Darren Bush requested the umpires gather and re-consider the balls and strikes count from 3-2 to 2-2. The count was changed, and Naturals' hitting coach Terry Bradshaw was ejected, apparently for arguing the call with first base umpire Brett Robson. It didn't end up making much of a difference however, because Mike Moustakas hit a one-out RBI double off the wall in right-center to clear the bases for a 6-1 lead. Moustakas now has 49 RBI on the season.
Derrick Robinson along with Seratelli and Smith had two hits apiece for the Naturals. Seratelli also swiped two bases. Beau Vaughan (1-3), who allowed the two runs in the seventh, took the loss for Midland.
The Naturals go for the series sweep Monday night with a 7:00 P.M. start. The Naturals will send right-hander Mario Santiago (4-4, 2.53) to the mound to face fellow right-hander Travis Banwart (4-3, 3.53) for Midland. Santiago was brilliant in his last start, which came against Frisco. He pitched six shutout innings, did not walk a batter, and struck out three. Banwart suffered a loss his last time out against Tulsa. Banwart pitched six innings, gave up two earned runs, and struck out two.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.
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