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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Series Preview: Cards get help heading towards playoffs

August 25, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Looking at the standings, you notice Springfield has won just five of their last ten games, yet they've put up the 'W' four games in a row as the Cardinals team arrive in Northwest Arkansas, fresh off the heels of sweeping the Corpus Christi Hooks. The Naturals start this series looking up at the Tulsa Drillers and on the bottom end of two sweeps at the hands of the Midland RockHounds and Frisco RoughRiders.

The Naturals need these games to catch Tulsa in the standings, and the Cards want to mount a roll and gain momentum heading for the playoffs. And just in time for September, the Cards are getting healthy and getting better. This trip to town, they have the services of outfielder Joe Mather, a member of the 2007 Springfield team who hit .303 with 18 HR and 46 RBI in 64 games. Mather made his major league debut last season and has battled through wrist surgery this year and is working his way back towards the majors.

Also improving in the health department is All-Star outfielder and noted Naturals killer Daryl Jones, who missed six weeks with a left quad injury. Jones (.318, 10 RBI against the Naturals) isn't the only killer of Naturals pitching on Springfield, as 1B/C/DH Steven Hill (.278, 8 HR, 17 RBI) and OF Tyler Henley (.315, 5, 16 RBI) also find success against Northwest Arkansas. The Cards also have shutdown reliever Eduardo Sanchez, who has stolen the closer role from Francisco Samuel. Sanchez is phenomenal against the Naturals, and hasn't allowed them an earned run in 12 1/3 IP this season. Right-hander Trey Hearne (10-3, 3.20 ERA) has also returned to the Springfield roster from a short stay with Triple-A Memphis, and will combine with Lance Lynn to give the Cards a solid pairing at the front of a playoff rotation come September.

St. Louis Cardinals prospects on the Springfield roster include the Jones (#7), SS Peter Kozma (#10), RHP Lance Lynn (#15), RHP Francisco Samuel (#21), C/1B/OF Steven Hill (#25), C/3B Tony Cruz (#27), and LHP Nick Additon (#30). Lynn was the Cards' first-round pick in the 2008 draft. Kozma has had a steady campaign in the Texas League and is rated by Baseball America as the best defensive infielder in the system. Baseball America also sees Daryl Jones as the organization's best athlete and fastest baserunner. These rankings will change tremendously for next year with the departures of several prospects including third baseman Brett Wallace and former Diamond Hog Jess Todd in separate trades earlier this summer.

On the numbers, Springfield's pitching staff has a 4.32 ERA, fourth in the Texas League and about a quarter of a run better than when they came into town three weeks ago. For their part the Naturals are fifth in that category (4.36). The Cards' still carry a low team average, batting.254 as a team on the season, but are fifth in runs scored and first in homers. The Naturals are at .271 as a club, ranked second, while their 633 runs scored is second but over 100 runs fewer than Midland who leads the league. Springfield pitchers have racked up 38 saves which is second in the league.

Northwest Arkansas currently leads the season series against Springfield, 15-13.

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Monday's pitching matchup sees left-hander Everett Teaford (3-6, 5.95) for the Naturals opposite right-hander Lance Lynn (10-4, 2.99) for Springfield. Tuesday, right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (5-9, 5.24) will toe the rubber for the Naturals while righty Scott Gorgen (3-4, 4.93) goes for the Cards. The Naturals will throw lefty Rowdy Hardy (3-3, 2.72) on Wednesday opposite right-hander Brandon Dickson (8-9, 3.56) for Springfield, and the series wraps Friday with right-hander Anthony Lerew (8-6, 4.31) getting the call for Northwest Arkansas and lefty Nick Additon (2-2, 3.29) slated to start for Springfield.

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Texas League Stories from August 25, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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