SPRINGDALE -- Thursday night's game between Northwest Arkansas and the San Antonio Missions began and ended with a bang.
Unfortunately for the homestanding Naturals, it was the visitors making most of the noise.
How They Scored
San Antonio 2, NWA Naturals 1
San Antonio^100^100^000^—^2^8^1
NWA Naturals^100^000^000^—^1^9^2
Needy, Campos (8), Barbato (8) and Hedges; Ferguson, Alexander (5), Culver (8), Fassold (9) and Graterol. W - Needy, 2-3. L - Ferguson, 2-4. S - Barbato (13). HRs - San Antonio, Fuentez (2).
At A Glance
Texas League Standings
North Division
Team^W-L^GB
Tulsa^24-21^—
Arkansas^21-23^2.5
Springfield^21-24^3.0
Northwest Arkansas^16-28^7.5
Thursday Scores
San Antonio 2, NW Arkansas 1
Tulsa 7, Frisco 2
Midland 6, Springfield 1
Corpus Christi 3, Arkansas 1
Today’s Games
Springfield at Midland, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
Tulsa at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.
Corpus Christi at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
San Antonio began the game with a Reymond Fuentez home run on the first pitch from Naturals starter Andy Ferguson and it was the difference in a 2-1 win. In the bottom of the ninth, Naturals shortstop Orlando Calixte hit a long fly ball that was caught at the wall in dead center for the final out with the tying and winning runs aboard.
The Naturals (16-29) slide farther into last place in the Texas league with their dismal home record falling to 6-18.
Naturals Manager Vance Wilson did not meet with the media following the game and held a long meeting in the lockerroom. The team has lost seven of their past eight games, including three one-run games.
The Naturals answered the home run with a run in the bottom of the first as Chelsor Cutherbert drove home Justin Trapp with a single.
But that was all the offense the Naturals could muster.
Short Hops
• Despite the 2-1 score, Thursday's game took almost three hours (2:56) to play. There were 17 hits, 10 walks and 3 errors combined.
• Calixte, who made the loud final out for the Naturals, had hit two walkoff game-winning hits for the Naturals this year.
• Naturals right fielder Jorge Bonifacio continues to lead the Texas League with 33 RBIs. Bonifacio is the No.4 rated prospect in the Royals system.
Extra Bases: Thursday's Naturals starter Andy Ferguson is from Benton and played college baseball at Arkansas State where he was 7-4 with an ERA of 3.57 as a senior and he was selected by the Royals in the 18th round of the 2011 draft. ... The Naturals are 10-4 this season when leading after six innings and 1-20 when trailing after six innings. ... Thursday's pregame entertainment featured the band and chorus from Rogers Elmwood Junior High, which did a rousing version of "Lolliop, Oh Lollipop."
Royals Pipeline: Former Naturals standout Mike Moustakas was demoted from the Royals to AAA Omaha on Thursday. The former No.1 draft pick has not been in the minor leagues since 2010, but was batting just .152 for the Royals.
On Deck: The Corpus Christi Hooks come to town for the first time this season for a 6:05 p.m. game. The Naturals are scheduled to start RHP Tim Melville (1-3, 3.38). The Hooks have not named a starter for today's game.
Today's Promotion: Break A World Record Night/Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular presented by Farm Rich.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 05/23/2014