TEXAS LEAGUE: Naturals’ late outburst halts ’Hounds

A late offensive outburst Wednesday night helped Northwest Arkansas remain atop the Texas League North Division.

The Naturals scored nine runs over the final two innings to pull away for an 11-2 victory over the Midland Rock-Hounds in front of 5,837 at Citibank Ballpark in Midland, Texas.

The game was tied 2-2 heading into the eighth inning, but Northwest Arkansas scored twice in the inning and added seven in the top of the ninth to secure the victory.

Brian Fletcher started things in the eighth inning for the Naturals with a one-out double to left field, and Matt Fields followed with another double to left to drive in Fletcher.

Cheslor Cuthbert drew a walk before the Naturals pulled off a double steal with Fields swiping third and Cuthbert taking second. Roman Hernandez reached on an intentional walk to load the bases, and Whit Merrifield followed two batters later with a single to left to drive in Fields for a 4-2 lead.

The Naturals finished off the RockHounds with a big ninth inning.

Northwest Arkansas opened the inning with consecutive singles by Juan Graterol and Brett Eibner, and Orlando Calixte’s double to center field drove in Graterol for a 5-2 lead. Fletcher’s single to right field brought in Eibner and Calixte for a 7-2 lead. After a strikeout by Fields, Cuthbert drew a walk and Hernandez singled to drive in Fletcher.

Mike DeMark came in for Midland reliever Nate Long,and Yem Prades greeted De-Mark with a double to to right field that brought in Cuthbert for a 9-2 lead. Merrifield’s groundout to third drove in Hernandez, and Graterol reached on a throwing error by third baseman Vinnie Catricala that allowed Prades to score the Naturals’ final run.

Sam Runion worked a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the victory.

Naturals glance

NW ARKANSAS AT MIDLAND WHEN 7 p.m. Central today WHERE Citibank Ballpark, Midland, Texas RADIO KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Fayetteville WEBSITE nwanaturals.com PITCHERS Naturals: Andy Ferguson (RHP, 1-2, 4.53); Sean Murphy (RHP, 5-2, 4.39) THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY at Midland 7 p.m.

FRIDAY at Midland, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

SUNDAY at Frisco, 6:05 p.m.

MONDAY at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

TUESDAY off WEDNESDAY Springfield, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES NW Arkansas 11, Midland 2 Arkansas 2, Frisco 1 San Antonio 4, Tulsa 0 Springfield 11, Corpus Christi 3 TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Corpus Christi at Springfield, 5:09 p.m.

NW Arkansas at Midland, 7 p.m.

Arkansas at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

San Antonio at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.

Sports, Pages 19 on 07/04/2013

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