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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Skoglund Sharp as Naturals Defeat Tulsa

April 23, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (6-9) received a good start from LHP Eric Skoglund (1-0, 4.11) and the offense kept rolling in a 7-3 win over the Tulsa Drillers (4-11) on Saturday night at Arvest Ballpark. The victory was the first Double-A win for Skoglund while the Naturals have now won six in a row at home and enjoy a 6-3 home record on the year.

Eric Skoglund, the 23-year old left-hander made his third start of the season and was sharp in tonight's contest. The Sarasota-native gave the Naturals 5.0 innings of one run baseball while scattering seven hits and striking out four. The win was the first Double-A victory of his career as he spent the 2015 season in High-A Wilmington going 6-3 with a 3.52 ERA in 15 starts.

The Naturals offense gave their starting pitcher an early cushion as Carlos Garcia led off the game with a single. A stolen base and a wild pitch later would move him to third and he would come around to score on a RBI double by Raul Mondesi. Two batters later, the Naturals would extend their lead to 2-0 over the Drillers on an RBI groundout by Orlando Calixte.

The Naturals maintained a 2-0 advantage into the third inning before the Drillers got on the board with some two out offense. Kyle Farmer doubled to right before Jacob Scavuzzo would drive him home with a RBI single to make it 2-1.

Skoglund and Drillers starter Chase De Jong (1-3, 4.74) would match zeros in the fourth before the Northwest Arkansas' offense would tack on two more runs in the fifth to break away from their North division counterparts. Jack Lopez led off the frame with a solo home run and then Bubba Starling delivered the second run with an RBI single to left for a 5-1 lead.

The Naturals would add another run in the sixth and two more in the eighth while Tulsa would plate a run in each of the last two frames to set the final score at 7-3. Andrew Edwards (H, 1) threw an effective 2.2 innings out of the bullpen while Andrew McCarthy (S, 2) picked up his second save of the season. The win clinches the series for Northwest Arkansas.

The final game of this homestand will be tomorrow afternoon - Sunday, April 24 - at Arvest Ballpark against the Double-A Los Angeles Dodgers with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Sunday is our first Bark in the Ballpark of the 2016 season presented by The Whole Pet on Kids Eat FREE Family Sunday featuring Mercy Kids Run the Bases following the conclusion of the game.

RHP Brock Stewart will get the ball for the Drillers in the series finale while the Naturals will counter with RHP Alec Mills (1-1, 2.12 ERA). You can catch the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for Naturals baseball on KQSM 92.1 the Ticket at 1:50 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch at 2:05 p.m.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics



Texas League Stories from April 23, 2016


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