TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Series Preview: Second-place Frisco comes to town

Published on August 15, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


After taking two of three games from the high-octane offense of the Midland RockHounds, the Naturals now host to Midland's South Division rivals, the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

Frisco comes into town in second place in the Texas League's south division, three games behind Midland, and also arrives following a heartbreaking 12 inning defeat Friday night at the hands of the Tulsa Drillers, losing 8-4 in 12 innings when Drillers' third baseman Darin Holcomb hit a walkoff grand slam.

The RoughRiders have been an instrumental cog the past season and a half developing the talent that has contributed not only to the ‘Riders reaching the Texas League Championship Series last season but also has the big-league club in the thick of the American League Wild Card hunt. Prior to the season Baseball America ranked the Rangers' farm the best amongst all 30 teams in terms of talent, and much of that talent, headlined by SS Elvis Andrus, LHP Derek Holland, and flame-throwing RHP Neftali Feliz, has arrived to Arlington and is contributing.

All were 2008 RoughRiders, but there is more talent to be tapped in the system, particularly heavy in pitching, and the Frisco roster has a few of those top prospects: LHP Martin Perez (#5), RHP Blake Beavan (#12), LHP Kasey Kiker (#19), RHP Omar Poveda (#24), and RHP Thomas Diamond (#28).

Offensively, utility-man Adam Fox has been a surprise and is second on the club in home runs, and the ‘Riders have gotten solid contributions at the plate from OF's Mitch Moreland and Tim Smith, both of whom are on the prospect radar. That said, Moreland broke his foot and has landed on the disabled list for the remainder of the season, and Smith is likewise sidelined in this series. Both hit the Naturals well this season, with Moreland driving in ten runs in six games and Smith posting a .385 average in three games.

Frisco does have one of the league's more prolific RBI men in 1B/OF Chad Tracy, who is tied with Midland's Chris Carter with 92 RBI. They also have former Razorback Craig Gentry, having a spectacular campaign in his return to the Texas League. The outfielder is batting .302 with eight homers and 47 RBI to go along with his league-leading 42 stolen bases. Kiker, the promising lefty, leads the circuit in strikeouts (111).

By the numbers, these two teams appear to be very evenly matched. Frisco comes in with a .271 batting average, same as the Naturals, and the run totals are also similar; Northwest Arkansas has scored 606 runs (second in the loop), Frisco has 587 (third). Frisco has hit 92 homers, two off the pace (Springfield is in the lead with 94), but the Naturals have outrun the ‘Riders, 132 to 87. The Naturals are still in the league's lead for stolen bases. On the pitching end, the Naturals 4.29 team ERA is ranked fourth, while the ‘Riders 4.47 team ERA is sixth. Frisco has thrown three more shutouts than have the Naturals (seven), and they've also issued the second most walks (451), but fanned the most amount of opposing batters (766).

Last season, these two teams split their season series with six wins apiece, and the Naturals were 5-1 against Frisco at home. This season the season series is 4-2 in favor of the Naturals.

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Saturday's pitching matchup features right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (5-9, 4.85) facing young right-hander Blake Beavan (2-4, 4.54). Sunday, southpaw Rowdy Hardy (3-1, 2.61) toes the rubber for the Naturals opposite right-hander Omar Poveda (8-5, 4.49), and the series wraps up Monday evening with right-hander Anthony Lerew (8-6, 4.61) slated to go for the Naturals and lefty Michael Ballard (4-6, 4.60) on the mound for Frisco.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from August 15, 2009


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