NWA Naturals blank Arkansas, 4-0

Northwest Arkansas Naturals pitcher Emilio Ogando delivers a pitch Saturday during his double-A debut against the Arkansas Travelers at Arvest Park in Springdale.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals pitcher Emilio Ogando delivers a pitch Saturday during his double-A debut against the Arkansas Travelers at Arvest Park in Springdale.

SPRINGDALE -- Emilio Ogando tossed six shutout innings in his Double-A debut to lead Northwest Arkansas to a 4-0 win over Arkansas in Texas League baseball Saturday evening in Arvest Ballpark.

The 23-year-old left-hander was activated earlier Saturday and didn't allow a Travelers base runner past second base. Naturals manager Vance Wilson was pleased with what he saw, but also credited veteran catcher Allan de San Miguel with helping the newcomer through six innings.

Texas League Baseball

Northwest Arkansas 4, Arkansas 0

Arkansas^000^000^000^—^0^6^1

Northwest Arkansas^010^000^30x^—^4^11^0

Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG

Taylor, C, CF^4^0^1^0^0^1^0^.338

Baum, 3B^4^0^0^0^0^0^1^.181

Waldrop, RF^4^0^1^0^0^0^0^.282

Casteel, 1B^4^0^2^0^0^0^1^.289

Marlette, C^3^0^1^0^1^1^1^.243

Mack, LF^3^0^0^0^1^2^4^.194

Petty, DH^4^0^1^0^0^2^4^.238

Wong, SS^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.224

Hebert, 2B^3^0^0^0^0^1^0^.164

Totals^33^0^6^0^2^8^13^

BATTING

TB: Marlette; Taylor, C; Waldrop; Petty; Casteel 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wong; Petty 2; Marlette. Team RISP: 0-for-6. Team LOB: 8.

NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG

Dewees Jr., LF^4^0^0^0^0^1^3^.213

Escalera, RF^3^0^2^1^0^0^0^.287

Duenez, 1B^4^0^0^0^0^0^5^.295

Schwindel, DH^4^0^0^0^0^0^4^.356

Ramos, 3B^4^2^2^1^0^1^0^.258

Arteaga, SS^4^1^3^1^0^1^0^.227

Lopez, Jac, 2B^4^1^1^0^0^0^2^.286

de San Miguel, C^3^0^2^1^0^0^0^.200

Gore, CF^3^0^1^0^0^0^1^.245

Totals^33^4^11^4^0^3^15^

BATTING

2B: Escalera (4, Unsworth); Arteaga (2, Unsworth). 3B: Ramos (1, Unsworth). HR: Ramos (3, 2nd inning off Unsworth, 0 on, 0 out). TB: de San Miguel 2; Arteaga 4; Gore; Lopez, Jac; Ramos 7; Escalera 3.RBI: Ramos (7); Arteaga (5); de San Miguel (1); Escalera (12). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Schwindel 3; Lopez, Jac.Team RISP: 3-for-9. Team LOB: 6.

Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA

Unsworth (L, 1-2)^6.0^10^4^4^0^2^1^5.24

Gillies^2.0^1^0^0^0^1^0^5.23

NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA

Ogando (W, 1-0)^6.0^5^0^0^2^4^0^0.00

Goudeau (S, 1)^3.0^1^0^0^0^4^0^3.12

HBP: Escalera (by Gillies).

Umpires: HP: Cody Oakes. 1B: Justin Robinson. 3B: Reid Gibbs.

T: 2:13. Att: 5,988.

"We actually saw him pitch a couple times in spring training on our field and I liked him," Wilson said. "I don't do a ton of research when we get guys, but I know there was some struggles times. The one thing we'd heard is he wasn't being aggressive and that obviously wasn't the case tonight."

"I thought de San Miguel did a heck of a job getting him through the game. I think de San gets as much credit even though Emilio was pitching."

Ogando (1-0) was 1-0 with a 5.47 ERA in five games at Class A-advanced Wilmington, but was called up when Miguel Almonte was recalled to Kansas City on Friday. He scattered six singles, struck out four and walked only two.

Northwest Arkansas (15-12) maintained a share of the lead in the Texas League North Division with the win.

Mauricio Ramos got Ogando all the offense he needed with a 437-foot solo home run -- his third of the season -- on the first pitch leading off the bottom of the third inning off Arkansas starter Dylan Unsworth (1-2). He was one of three Naturals with two hits, while shortstop Humberto Arteaga went 3-for-4 and also drove in a run.

The Naturals broke open the tight game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Northwest Arkansas sent 10 batters to the plate as Arteaga and de San Miguel contributed RBI singles and Alfredo Escalera was hit by a pitch to drive in a run.

Arkansas manager Daren Brown said the Travelers (12-16) haven't been consistent offensively.

"Both of their guys threw the ball well tonight," said Brown, whose team dropped to 12-16. "We never were able to string much together against them. I still think we're trying to figure some things out. We've got some guys that started off really good. We don't have enough of them.

"We win two or three in a row and swing the bats well, then we scored one run until the ninth yesterday and then nothing today."

Ryan Casteel accounted for two of Arkansas' six hits, both singles.

SHORT HOPS

• Northwest Arkansas reliever Ashton Goudeau threw three scoreless innings to notch his first save. He allowed just one hit and struck out four.

• Current Kansas City Royals Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez highlight the Naturals' Season 10 team, which was announced Saturday evening.

The 17-player team includes eight position players, one utility player, one designated hitter, four starting pitchers and three relievers that excelled for the Naturals in their first nine seasons. The team was voted on by fans, media and members of the Naturals organization.

Rounding out the infield is Johnny Giavatella and Raul Mondesi, along with outfielders Will Myers, Paulo Orlando and Jorge Bonifacio. Clint Robinson is the DH and Whit Merrifield is the utility guy. The pitching staff includes Danny Duffy, Jake Odorizzi, Will Smith and Yordano Ventura. Greg Holland, Chris Hayes and Kevin Herrerra make up the bullpen.

On Deck: The Naturals continue their four-game series against Arkansas. Right-hander Tyler Herb (0-1 5.40 ERA) will start for Arkansas, while Almonte (1-0 1.85 ERA) will start for the Naturals.

Tonight's Promotion: Kids 12-and-under eat free and all kids can run the bases following the game.

On The Air: KYNG AM-1590

On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com

Sports on 05/07/2017

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