Gibbs Powers Naturals Past Travs

 STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA Cheslor Cuthbert, left, of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals leaps over Adam Melker of the Arkansas Travelers while making a play to first base Wednesday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA Cheslor Cuthbert, left, of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals leaps over Adam Melker of the Arkansas Travelers while making a play to first base Wednesday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

SPRINGDALE -- Micah Gibbs provided the perfect piece of clutch, two-out hitting for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Wednesday.

Gibbs delivered a two-run home run over the left centerfield wall with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. The home run broke a tie game and gave the Naturals a 5-3 victory over the Arkansas Travelers in front of an announced 3,305 at Arvest Ballpark.

How They Scored

Northwest Arkansas 5, Arkansas 3

Arkansas^020^001^000^—^3^8^0

Northwest Arkansas^000^212^00X^—^5^7^1

Sneed, Brady (6) and De La Rosa; Murray, Baez (6), Triggs (8) and Gibbs. W-Baez, 1-4. L-Sneed, 6-8, Save-Triggs (15). HRs- NW Arkansas, Gibbs (2).

For Gibbs, it was just his second home run of the season, but he picked the ideal spot to deliver.

"It felt good to put us on top and come through," Gibbs said. "Especially in a big series like this."

Matt Murray made his third start of the season and went five innings for the Naturals, giving up just one earned run on six hits. Angel Baez (1-4) earned the win in two innings of relief, allowing one run, before closer Andrew Triggs closed out the Travelers with two scoreless innings the eighth and ninth.

"Angel struggled there in the first inning but he came back and did a nice job there in the second," Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said. "And Triggs has been outstanding. Sometimes you like to keep him to one inning, but when he's rested and ready you say alright he's ready for two."

Arkansas (16-17) and Northwest Arkansas (16-17) now sit tied atop the Texas League North Division second half standings.

Short Hops

• Naturals infielder Cheslor Cuthbert made his first start of the season at second base Wednesday.

• Angel Franco was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored out of the leadoff spot for the Naturals on Wednesday.

• The two teams combined to steal five bases in the game.

Extra Bases: Pitcher Blake Wood was promoted to Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday from Single-A Wilmington and is scheduled to pitch today. LHP Scott Alexander was promoted from the Naturals to Omaha as well on Wednesday. ... Wood, who pitched with the Cleveland Indians earlier this season, was a third round pick by the Royals in the 2006 draft.

Royals Pipeline: Bubba Starling, the top pick for the Royals in the 2011 draft, went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and three runs in a 7-6 win in 10 innings for Single-A Advanced Wilmington over Carolina. .. Raul Mondesi Jr. with two RBIs and two runs in the win for Wilmington.

On Deck: The Naturals begin a four-game series against Springfield tonight in a 7:05 p.m. start. Andy Ferguson (7-8, 3.19 ERA) will start for the Naturals. Springfield has not named a starting pitcher.

Today's Promotion: Christmas in July featuring a Santa Hat Giveaway. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Naturals' Santa Hat courtesy of Brach's. ... The Naturals will partner with the NWA Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Fans that donate a new toy will receive two free reserved tickets to tonight's game.

On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1

On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com

Sports on 07/24/2014

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