SPRINGDALE -- Arkansas starter Michael Brady mystified Northwest Arkansas for five innings Thursday night, but the Naturals eventually solved the mystery to take a 2-0 lead in the Texas League North Division Series.
The Naturals scored five runs in the sixth inning to defeat the Travelers 5-3 in front of an announce crowd of 3,215 at Arvest Ballpark.
Hunter Dozier slapped the first pitch from Arkansas reliever Eduard Santos up the middle for a two-out, two-run single in the sixth to give the Naturals the 5-3 lead.
Brady held Northwest Arkansas without a hit through the first five innings as the Travelers built a 3-0 lead, but Naturals Manager Vance Wilson said his team stayed with the approach it had worked on and it finally paid off in the sixth when Northwest Arkansas sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits and a bases-loaded walk.
"Brady's been that enigma this year against us where we've done really well against him or we've scuffled," Wilson said. "We hadn't struck out like that, though. It seemed like he had a little more velocity tonight. We stayed in there and had some really patient at-bats."
Dozier and Ramon Torres had two hits each for the Naturals, and Dozier and Lane Adams both drove in two runs.
"Dozier has been up and down this season. We try to tell those guys that what you did during the season really doesn't matter, but what you do for the team now is what you really remember. I was proud and happy for him. It was huge."
The Naturals' bullpen took care of the rest as Benino Pruneda, Matt Murray and Mark Peterson combined for three scoreless innings to put away the game. Peterson earned the save.
Arkansas Manager Bill Richardson pointed to the Naturals' defense as a key in the game. Naturals first baseman Alex Liddi made a pair of diving stops, as did shortstop Raul Mondesi. Mondesi also snared a hard-hit ball in the ninth inning by pinch-hitter Eric Aguilera to start a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
"I felt like they made some fantastic defensive plays, and I give them all the credit in the world," Richardson said. "They put together a great inning. Michael Brady was very good. They were very opportunistic. They held serve at home, and now it's our turn."
Raywilly Gomez and Chad Hinshaw led Arkansas with two hits apiece. Gomez slapped a two-out, two-run single just over the outstretched glove of Liddi to give the Travelers a 3-0 lead.
Brady allowed 3 runs on 3 hits while striking out 9 and walking 2.
MIDLAND 9, CORPUS CHRISTI 3
Renato Nunez hit a grand slam in the ninth inning as the Midland RockHounds scored seven times in the final inning to break open a 2-1 game and tie Texas League South Division Series at a game apiece.
The RockHounds had increased their lead to 5-2 on RBI singles by Jaycob Brugman, Colin Walsh and Anthony Aliotti before Nunez took the first pitch from Albert Minnis to center field to break open the game.
The Hooks answered with one in the ninth when Conrad Gregor homered off Brendan McCurry, but it wasn’t enough.
Aliotti and Josh Whitaker went 3 for 4 for the RockHounds. Nunez was 2 for 5, and Matt Olson was 2 for 3.
Jeff Urlaub (1-0) picked up the victory, pitching a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in the eighth.
Jandel Gustave (0-1) allowed 5 runs on 3 hits in 1 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Sports on 09/11/2015