Four Errors Doom NWA Naturals

STAFF PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS 
• @NWAMICHAELW 
Juan Graterol of Northwest Arkansas dives after a throw from the outfield as Midland base runner Chad Oberakcer slides safely home to score a run in the second inning of Sunday’s game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
STAFF PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS • @NWAMICHAELW Juan Graterol of Northwest Arkansas dives after a throw from the outfield as Midland base runner Chad Oberakcer slides safely home to score a run in the second inning of Sunday’s game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Midland 11, Northwest Arkansas 6

MIDLAND 11, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS 6

Midland^042^101^120^-^11^13^3

Northwest Arkansas^000^210^021^-^6^9^4

Jensen, Castillo (6), Werner (8), Dull (9) and Taylor; Sulbaran, Fassold (4), Baez (6), Alexander (9) and Graterol.

W – Jensen, 1-0. L – Sulbaran, 0-1. HRs – Midland, Taylor (1), Myers (1); Northwest Arkansas, Threlkheld (2).

At A Glance

Texas League Standings

North Division

Team^W-L^GB

Arkansas^6-3^—

Tulsa^4-6^2.5

Springfield^3-7^3.5

Northwest Arkansas^2-8^4.5

Sunday’s Scores

Corpus Christi 9, Springfield 1

Tulsa 4, San Antonio 3

Frisco at Arkansas, postponed

Today’s Games

Midland at Northwest Arkansas

Tulsa at San Antonio

Frisco at Arkansas

Springfield at Corpus Christi

— Northwest Arkansas was in a giving mood again on Sunday afternoon.

The Naturals committed four errors, including three in a four-run second inning, in an 11-6 loss to Midland in front of 3,824 in the opener of a three-game series in Arvest Ballpark.

In the disastrous second inning, the Naturals failed to convert consecutive double-play opportunities. Josh Whitaker was hit by a pitch to open the inning before Naturals' second baseman Justin Trapp failed to field a hard-hit grounder by Chad Oberacker. Colin Walsh then hit a routine grounder that Trapp fielded, but shortstop Angel Franco dropped the toss from Trapp, loading the bases. Beau Taylor's sacrifice fly scored Whitaker, and Midland added three more runs, with the aid of a throwing error, for a 4-0 lead.

"Our starting pitching has been struggling a little bit," Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said. "Finally, we get a guy out there throwing quality and your defense lets you down. You step back and look at the three facets of the game -- pitching, defense and hitting. It seems every night one's going okay but two of them are bad.

"We'll get back to the drawing board and get the guys positive."

Midland scored two more runs in the third inning and added another run in the fourth inning, again aided by a Naturals' error, to go up 7-0.

Midland also struggled defensively, committing a pair of errors in the fourth inning and allowing the Naturals to score their first two runs of the game. Midland also yielded an unearned run in the fifth inning.

Midland's D'Arby Myers, a cousin of former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, had a good day at the plate with a walk, two singles, a triple and a solo homer while raising his batting average from .233 to .324. Midland's Dusty Coleman did not, striking out five times and stranding five runners on base.

Short Hops:

• Midland hit for the cycle sparked by solo homers from Beau Taylor and D'Arby Myers along with Myers' fourth-inning triple.

• Naturals reliever Angle Baez had a mixed outing, striking out five but giving up two homers in 2-1/3 innings of work.

• During Northwest Arkansas' current seven-game losing streak, the team earned run average is 9.00 with 82 hits and 30 walks in 60 innings while giving up 14 homers.

Extra Bases: The Naturals committed four errors, three of which were in the second inning, and dropped to 1-5 when they have committed two or more errors this season. ... The Naturals fell behind 7-0 and dropped to 1-5 when their opponents have scored first this season. ... Of 17 runs scored on Sunday combined, five were unearned due to seven errors.

Royals Pipeline: First baseman Matt Fields was 1-for-3 in Omaha's 5-3 loss at Nashville on Sunday, extending his hit streak to all 11 games this season. Fields doubled home a run in the eighth inning and is hitting .450 for the season.

On Deck: The Naturals will host Midland for the second game of the three-game series at 7:05 p.m. today. Jason Adam (0-1, 18.00 ERA) will be on the mound for Northwest Arkansas. Drew Granier (0-1, 12.71) will start for Midland.

Today's Promotion: Tonight is Monday Night Lights sponsored by Ozarks Electric Cooperative Corporation. Customers of Ozarks Electric can receive buy one, get one free tickets at the Arvest Ballpark Box Office. Tonight is also Dollar Hot Dog night sponsored by Tyson Foods. Also, Sky Casino Baseball Bingo will be played for prizes.

On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1

On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com

Sports on 04/14/2014

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