Friday
24Apr2009
Arkansas Travelers Nip Northwest Arkansas Naturals 4-3 - Texas League
Friday, April 24, 2009 at 08:40AM
LITTLE ROCK, AR– Peter Bourjos’ bunt single to begin the sixth inning proved to be the winning run, as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals lost 4-3 against the Arkansas Travelers in their first meeting in 2009. Marco Albano earns the win for the Travs at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Blake Johnson (0-2) and Carlos Sencion did all they could to contain the Travelers offense on Thursday night. Johnson, who started the game, lasted 5 2/3 innings while giving up four runs. Sencion relieved Johnson late in the sixth, and struck out three batters while only allowing two hits in his 2 1/3 innings pitched. The solid pitching performance was not enough for the win as offense was at a premium the entire evening.
Northwest Arkansas (6-7) jumped out to an early lead after a Jordan Parraz double kept the inning alive with two outs. Second baseman Kurt Mertins would later plate the right fielder with a single of his own. Mertins would be thrown out at home by Travelers center fielder Peter Bourjos after a Brian McFall single to end the second inning.
The Naturals would jump out to a 3-0 lead in the fifth thanks to a based loaded walk to Joe Dickerson, and a sacrifice fly by Mario Lisson. Northwest Arkansas would be held hitless for the final four innings.
Arkansas (5-8) was lead by first baseman Mark Trumbo. Trumbo was one for two with a walk and two runs batted in. Peter Bourjos, who scored the winning run and threw out Kurt Mertins at home, added two hits and two runs of his own.
Starting pitcher Amalio Diaz was replaced by Marco Albano (1-1) in the middle of the fifth inning. Chad Blackwell and Ryan Brasier cruised through the Naturals for the final nine outs. Brasier was awarded his first save of the season.
Current Natural and former Traveler, Corey Smith, was one for four in his return to North Little Rock.
On Friday night the Naturals will send Blake Wood (0-0, 7.00 ERA) to the mound against Michael Anton (0-1, 7.00 ERA). Game two of a four game series will start at 7:10 p.m. The boys from Northwest Arkansas will return home on Monday the 27th for an eight game home stand against Springfield and North Little Rock.
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, nwanaturals.com 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.
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