NATURALS 3, TRAVELERS 1
Samir Duenez hit a two-run single in the third inning Saturday to lead the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to a 3-1 victory over the Arkansas Travelers in front of 8,049 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
Alfredo Escalera started the third inning with a single, then Nick Heath reached on a sacrifice bunt. Travs starter Rob Whalen made a throwing error on the play, allowing Escalera to advance to third and Heath moved to second with no outs. Erick Mejia popped out and Jecksson Flores struck out before Duenez singled through the hole at second base to give the Naturals a 2-0 lead.
The Travelers cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth when Chris Mariscal, who hit a one-out single to center field, scored on Donnie Walton's two-out RBI double. Chuck Taylor grounded out to end the inning and the threat for Arkansas, which left eight runners on base.
The Naturals got an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Flores doubled to start the inning and advanced to third on Duenez's fly out. Travs reliever Nathan Bannister then threw a wild pitch that allowed Flores to score, giving Northwest Arkansas a 3-1 lead.
Flores was the only Naturals player with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a run scored. The Travelers finished with seven hits but did not have a player with more than one.
Jace Vines (3-3) got the victory for the Naturals, who improved to 17-6 against the Travelers this season. Vines allowed 1 earned run in the fifth inning on 5 hits with 2 wild pitches, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Andres Machado got Walton to ground out with runners on first and second to end the game for his ninth save of the season.
Whalen (0-1) took the loss for the Travelers after allowing 2 runs -- none earned -- on 2 hits with a walk and 4 strikeouts over 4 innings.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS TRAVELERS VS. NW ARKANSAS NATURALS
WHEN 2:10 p.m.
WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas; KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Northwest Arkansas
WEBSITES travs.com, nwanaturals.com
PITCHERS Travs: RHP Williams Perez (6-1, 2.32 ERA); Naturals: LHP Emilio Ogando (11-6, 4.66 ERA)
TICKETS $12 box, $8 reserved ($5 kids), $6 general admission ($4 kids). Gates open one hour before first pitch.
PROMOTIONS Fans are invited on the field before the game to take pictures with the team, and kids run the bases after the game. $3 admission discount with military identification or with a coupon available at Edwards Food Giant locations. Families admitted for $10 with a church bulletin.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY vs. NW Arkansas, 2:10 p.m.
MONDAY vs. NW Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
TUESDAY at Springfield, 6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY at Springfield, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at NW Arkansas, 6:05 p.m.
Sports on 08/26/2018