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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Series Preview: Drillers and Naturals tied in first

August 29, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


The Naturals complete their seven-game homestand with three games against the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Tulsa is coming off a home series against the Arkansas Travelers who beat them three of four games.

That combined with the Naturals beating Springfield three of four times leads to a tie for the Texas League North Division. Ten games remain as of the start of this series with Tulsa, and the two teams will meet again next weekend in Tulsa - in what might just be the six biggest games in the Naturals' short history as they seek to bring the Texas League Playoffs back to Arvest Ballpark.

The Drillers, under manager Ron Gideon - have kept moving in the right direction in the second half of the season at close to the pace that they did in the first half, even after a couple of their players were lost to injuries or promotions. Arguably their best pitcher, right-hander Esmil Rogers, was promoted to Triple-A in early July and another right-handed pitching prospect, Jhoulys Chacin, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning here at Arvest Ballpark in June, was called up to the big leagues to join the Rockies' bullpen and then was re-assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Those two pitchers left but two other pitchers, right-handers Samuel Deduno (12-4, 2.69), and Chaz Roe (7-3, 3.27) have stepped up in their place.

Indeed, Gideon, who took over for erstwhile manager Stu Cole, can hang his hat on a strong pitching staff and stellar bullpen. Cole was promoted to skipper Triple-A Colorado Springs in the June organizational shuffle that followed big league manager Clint Hurdle's dismissal.

Colorado Rockies prospects on the Tulsa roster according to Baseball America include catcher Mike McKenry (#9), third baseman Darin Holcomb (#20), and right-hander Chaz Roe (#25). McKenry is also tabbed as the best defensive catcher in the Rockies' system, but will miss this series with an injury sustained in last night's game. Next week, McKenry will depart the team to join the US World Cup team, and will miss the remainder of the Texas League season. Trevor Reckling (Travelers), Corey Leubke (Missions), and Jason Castro (Hooks) are the other Team USA members currently in the Texas League.

As mentioned, Tulsa's strength is their pitching. The staff's 3.79 ERA is a close second to the Travelers' 3.75 ERA, which leads the league, and they've thrown 17 shutouts as a staff. They've also amassed a league-leading 40 saves as a team, 31 of those coming by closer Andrew Johnston, who leads the league. Tulsa's pitching staff is also on the upper end of the league in allowing home runs (86, fourth), and issuing walks (423, third fewest). Tulsa's .258 batting average is second to last in the league, and only the Travelers have scored fewer runs than have the Drillers.

Tulsa's pen not only includes Johnston but three other relatively new set-up men: Al Alburquerque, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, and Edgner Escalona, recently up from Advanced Class-A Modesto. Southpaw Matthew Reynolds also came up from Modesto and has acquitted himself to the Texas League nicely. The group was lights out in the month of July but all three have seen their ERA's and strikeout to walk rates rise of late.

The Naturals pitching staff is still ranked fifth entering this series with a 4.37 ERA, and their batting average (.271) as a team is second to Midland. Northwest Arkansas' 650 runs scored is second in the league as well, and they currently lead all Texas League teams in stolen bases with 152 as a club. One thing Naturals pitchers want to avoid is giving up the longball - their 105 homers allowed is second only to Corpus Christi.

Tulsa currently sports an 12-10 advantage on the season series, but the Naturals have the key tie-breaker in that they have a winning record vs. Tulsa in the second half of the season thus far.

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Saturday's pitching matchup pits left-hander Brandon Durden (7-2, 2.79) for Tulsa against Blake Johnson (7-8, 4.81), another right-hander, for the Naturals. Sunday, right-hander Chaz Roe (7-3, 3.27) will start for Tulsa opposite southpaw Everett Teaford (3-7, 5.91). Monday, right-hander Federico Castaneda (0-2, 3.10) is slated to start for the Naturals against right-hander Andy Graham (3-4, 4.48) for Tulsa.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics



Texas League Stories from August 29, 2009


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