TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Series Preview: Naturals Get Re-Acquainted with Drillers

Published on July 26, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Tulsa Drillers last met on Jun. 23, the second day of the second half of the 2011 season. Since then, the Naturals have endured a season-long losing streak, treaded water through a two week stretch against South Division opponents and most recently stormed back to take sole possession of first place in the Texas League North.

The Naturals enter this three-game set as winners of eight of their last nine games, dating back to the previous homestand's finale on Jul. 17. Since then, the team ripped through a four-game sweep of the Arkansas Travelers before returning home to take three of four from Springfield. At 16-14 in the second half, the Naturals sit one game ahead of Tulsa as this series gets underway.

The story of the Naturals' sweep in North Little Rock was pitching, but the club's offense carried the day against Springfield. The Naturals racked up 31 runs in the four-game set, scoring 11 runs twice in the series. No player hurt the Cardinals as much as Salvador Perez. The 21-year-old catcher only played in three of the four games but still managed to rack up nine hits, and a staggering total of 11 RBI. Perez launched two home runs against Springfield, a three-run shot in the series opener and a grand slam two days later. Having also caught and called the club's no-hitter last Tuesday, Perez is rightfully the reigning Texas League Player of the Week.

Though his work against Springfield was undoubtedly impressive, Perez was not the only Natural to victimize Springfield's pitching staff. Cleanup hitter Jamie Romak hit safely in all four games of the series to extend his hitting streak to a team-best 13 games, while Anthony Seratellireached base all five times he came to the plate on Sunday, becoming the first Natural this season to work four walks in a game. On the mound, relievers Willy Lebron and Blaine Hardy combined to pitch six innings of one-run ball to help give the Naturals a 5-4 win in Monday's series finale.

As one Texas League Player of the Year candidate - Springfield's Matt Adams - leaves town, the Naturals welcome another in Tulsa outfielder Tim Wheeler. Wheeler crushed the ball early in the season and has not slowed down since, leading the Texas League with 29 home runs, matching former Natural Clint Robinson's league-leading 2010 total. With a .392 on-base percentage, 23 doubles and 77 RBI, Wheeler is a dynamic presence at the top of Tulsa's order. The rest of the Driller lineup is also potent, as Wilin Rosario has launched 16 homers in 74 games and Jimmy Cesario has a team-leading .395 OBP. Another name to keep an eye on is reserve catcher Lars Davis, who is 7-18 with a pair of homers against the Naturals this season.

The series gets underway on Tuesday with a matchup of left-handed pitching prospects, as Chris Dwyer (3-9, 6.80) faces Christian Friedrich (6-6, 3.77). This will be the fourth time this season that these two pitchers have started in the same game, and each hurler is 1-1 in the previous three meetings.

The middle game of the series pits the Naturals' Jake Odorizzi (2-0, 4.76) against Tulsa right-hander Rob Scahill (8-7, 4.31). Odorizzi pitched into the seventh inning in winning the opening game of the homestand, while Scahill has allowed six runs in each of his last two starts against the Naturals.

The series and homestand conclude on Thursday night. To this point, Tulsa has not named a starter for the finale, though whoever pitches will face right-hander Edgar Garcia (0-0, 1.29). Garcia allowed three runs - one earned - in a spot start on Saturday.

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. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 26, 2011


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