Springfield Storms In With First-Place Tie
Published on May 7, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
Post-game fireworks, giveaways, and beverage specials can all be found within this action-packed series with Springfield. The two teams are knotted in every which way coming into today's game -both are in first place at 16-16, both teams have beaten each other four times this season, and each has taken two of those wins at the other's ballpark.
The Naturals come in white-hot, having won eight in a row at home, in the process brooming both the Arkansas Travelers and Tulsa Drillers. The only two losses the Naturals have suffered in their past 12 games have been at the hands of the Springfield Cardinals.
The S-Cards look a slight bit different than they did when they first came into town. Promotions within the St. Louis Cardinals organization has reshaped the pitching staff slightly and made a couple of changes to the S-Cards lineup. Naturals' killer Bryan Anderson, the top-regarded and promising backstop, has graduated to Triple-A Memphis, as has left-hander Jaime Garcia and right-hander P.J. Walters, two other pitchers who had some success at the Naturals expense thus far in 2008.
In their place are some interesting and familiar faces. Leading the pack is right-hander Jesse Todd, who starred for the Razorbacks in the 2007 SEC tournament against nationally ranked #9 University of South Carolina. Todd struck out 17 batters in just eight innings, setting both school and SEC tournament records. He struck out the first nine batters of the game, all of them swinging. He has also impressed in the pros in his first full season, earning distinction as Cardinals' organizational pitcher of the month for April after going 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA in the month for the Advanced-A Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League.
The Springfield Cardinals roster also now includes former Hogs infielder Casey Rowlett and also catcher Matt Pagnozzi, who is the nephew of former Cardinals' catcher Tom Pagnozzi. The Cards also added another pitching prospect, right-hander Tyler Herron, to the roster in the shake-up. Despite losing Anderson, the roster continues to have run-scoring potential and explosiveness, as the Cards' 30 homers are second in the Texas League.
Springfield's roster also continues to have a litany of St. Louis' Top 30 prospects according to Baseball America, and four are also former first-round selections. RHP Adam Ottavino (#6), the Cards' first round pick in 2006, is on the DL but has a lot of promise within the organization. Clayton Mortensen (#8), is another right-hander and former first-round pick (2007) with impressive stuff, Herron (#10) is the first-round selection from 2005, and INF Tyler Greene (#29) rounds out the impressive list of first-round talent coming through with Springfield. Other Top-30 prospects with the S-Cards include OF John Jay (#11), RHP Jess Todd (#12), 3B Allen Craig (#15), INF Jose Martinez (#17), 1B Mark Hamilton (#27), and RHP Luke Gregorson (#28).
Baseball America certainly recognizes Springfield's talent - Mortensen is notable for having the best fastball in the organization, and Todd's slider is rated as the best secondary pitch in the system.
Tonight's pitching matchup pits Naturals' lefty Rowdy Hardy (0-2, 5.40) against Jess Todd, the former Hog making his Texas League debut. Todd was 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA for Palm Beach before his promotion on Sunday. Tomorrow, LHP Dusty Hughes will face RHP Clayton Mortensen. Friday, Naturals' RHP Blake Johnson will face the Cardinals' RHP Tyler Herron, and Saturday to wrap up the series the Naturals will pit their ace, RHP Carlos Rosa, against RHP Cory Raushenberger.
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.. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website also offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.
Texas League Stories from May 7, 2008
- Naturals Win Streak Washed Away Wednesday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Will Accept Wednesday's Tickets as Rain Checks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Sutton's Bat, Sadler's Arm Sink Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards Hammer Naturals 8-1, Over .500 - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks defeat RoughRiders 2-1 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Springfield Storms In With First-Place Tie - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Rained Out - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs And Drillers All Wet Wednesday - Arkansas Travelers
- Coby Smith Goes To AAA, Toussaint Joins Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Face Frisco Tonight At 7:05 - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards Edge Travs 7-6 To Win Series - Arkansas Travelers
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.
