TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Strahm Stellar as Naturals Claim Series Finale

Published on May 6, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (13-14) rode the left arm of starting pitcher Matt Strahm to salvage a series split against the North division leading Springfield Cardinals (15-13). The lefty struck out seven in 7.0 innings of work as the Naturals defeated the Cardinals by the score of 8-3 in front of a crowd of 6,767 on Friday night at Arvest Ballpark.

Looking for his second win in as many outings, Matt Strahm was stellar for the Naturals on Friday night. The North Dakota native fired 7.0 innings of two-run ball (one earned run) while walking only one and striking out seven Red Birds. The young lefty lowered his ERA to 2.36, which is good for 8th best in the Texas League, and improved to 2-1 on the season. In his last two starts, he has gone 12.0 innings giving up two earned runs on 11 hits, one walk, while striking out 15 in the two wins.

The Northwest Arkansas offense gave Strahm plenty of run support as they posted a six spot in the second inning. Orlando Calixte collected the first of his three hits with a one-out double to right. Mauricio Ramos followed with an infield single to put runners at the corners. The bases were loaded after a Cameron Gallagher walk, which brought Logan Moon to the plate. Moon answered the call with a RBI single to right to give the Naturals an early 1-0 advantage. Northwest Arkansas would take advantage of some defensive mistakes, which included a throwing error, passed ball, and fielding error to extend their lead to 4-0. With two outs and two on, Ryan O'Hearn drove a two-run double off the wall in left for a commanding 6-0 lead.

Terrance Gore would add a RBI single in the third and Moon would add another RBI single in the seventh to complete Northwest Arkansas' tally at eight while Springfield's three runs came in the form of two Paul DeJong solo home runs and an unearned run in the fifth. The Naturals out-hit the Cardinals by an 11-to-7 margin with Orlando Calixte leading the way with a 3-for-4 effort with two doubles and three runs scored while O'Hearn, Ramos, and Moon all contributed multi-hit games.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will hit the road beginning tomorrow night for an eight game road trip over the span of nine days from Saturday, May 7 through Sunday, May 15. Tomorrow night the Naturals will renew the Arkansas Diamond Series against their in-state rival, the Arkansas Travelers, at 7:10 p.m. at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. In 2015, the Naturals went 17-11 against the Travs and also swept them in the Texas League North Divisional Playoffs Series.

Northwest Arkansas will send veteran RHP Christian Binford (2-2, 6.11 ERA) to the mound to face RHP Tyler Carpenter in his Travelers debut. You can catch all the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on AM 1590 - the Ticket-2 at 6:50 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch at 7:10 p.m. at Dickey-Stephens Park.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from May 6, 2016


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