Baseball: Naturals complete sweep of Travs

Arkansas shortstop Joey Wong (right) gets caught in a rundown with Northwest Arkansas first baseman Frank Schwindel during Tuesday’s game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. The Travelers outhit their rivals 9-5 but could muster only one run as the Naturals completed a four-game sweep and remained atop the Texas League standings.
Arkansas shortstop Joey Wong (right) gets caught in a rundown with Northwest Arkansas first baseman Frank Schwindel during Tuesday’s game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. The Travelers outhit their rivals 9-5 but could muster only one run as the Naturals completed a four-game sweep and remained atop the Texas League standings.

SPRINGDALE -- The start of Matt Tenuta's Double-A career hasn't been what he's wanted, but the Northwest Arkansas left-hander was in fine form Tuesday afternoon.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Blake Dedmon, a sixth-grader from Spiro, Okla., takes a swing at a pitch while playing in the kids’ zone during Tuesday’s game, which was deemed School Kids Day.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Northwest Arkansas left fielder Alfredo Escalera crosses home plate behind Arkansas catcher Marcus Littlewood in the fourth inning. Escalera doubled to start the inning and advanced to third on Mauricio Ramos’ single before scoring on a sacrifice fly.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Travelers catcher Marcus Littlewood (front) makes a tag on Naturals’ Mauricio Ramos at the plate Tuesday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Naturals’ Frank Schwindel is congratulated Tuesday after hitting a solo home run against the Travelers at Arvest Ballpark.

Tenuta pitched six shutout innings and Frank Schwindel and Zane Evans hit solo home runs as the Naturals completed the four-game sweep of the Arkansas Travelers with a 3-1 win before a season-high 8,614 fans on Kids Day at Arvest Ballpark.

NW Arkansas 3, Arkansas 1

Arkansas^000^000^010^—^1^9^1

NW Arkansas^010^100^10x^—^350

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

Taylor, C, LF^4^0^1^0^0^0^0^.337

Miller, I, CF^4^0^1^0^0^2^2^.317

Casteel, 1B^4^0^1^0^0^1^3^.282

Waldrop, RF^4^0^2^0^0^1^1^.282

Littlewood, C^4^0^1^0^0^1^2^.297

Petty, DH^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.224

Wong, SS^4^0^1^0^0^2^2^.222

Baum, 2B^3^1^1^1^0^0^1^.192

Hebert, 3B^3^0^1^0^0^1^0^.171

Totals^34^1^9^1^0^9^13^

BATTING

HR: Baum (1, 8th inning off Rico, L, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Littlewood; Taylor, C; Baum 4; Waldrop 2; Wong; Hebert; Casteel; Miller, I. RBI: Baum (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Casteel; Wong. GIDP: Baum; Casteel. Team RISP: 0-for-4. Team LOB: 6. SB: Miller, I (13, 2nd base off Tenuta/Evans).

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

Dewees Jr., DH^4^0^1^0^0^1^0^.228

Escalera, LF^4^1^1^0^0^0^1^.277

Ramos, 3B^4^0^1^0^0^1^1^.248

Schwindel, 1B^2^1^1^2^0^0^0^.342

Evans, C^3^1^1^1^0^0^1^.205

Sosa, R, 2B^2^0^0^0^1^0^0^.262

Lopez, Jac, SS^3^0^0^0^0^0^3^.300

Moon, RF^3^0^0^0^0^1^0^.231

Gore, CF^3^0^0^0^0^0^0^.254

Totals^28^3^5^3^1^3^6^

BATTING

2B: Escalera (5, Caughel). HR: Schwindel (6, 2nd inning off Caughel, 0 on, 0 out); Evans (2, 7th inning off Paez, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Schwindel 4; Ramos; Dewees Jr.; Evans 4; Escalera 2. RBI: Schwindel 2 (24); Evans (10). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ramos. SF: Schwindel. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 3.

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

Caughel (L, 2-3)^6.0^3^2^2^1^3^1^4.05

Paez^1.0^1^1^1^0^0^1^11.57

Curtis^1.0^1^0^0^0^0^0^3.21

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

Tenuta (W, 2-1)^6.0^4^0^0^0^4^0^7.61

Rico, L (H, 2)^1.0^4^1^1^0^2^1^4.35

Hill (S, 1)^2.0^1^0^0^0^3^0^6.91

Rico, L pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

WP: Caughel.

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

T: 2:17. Att: 8,614.

Tenuta, who came into the game with a 1-1 record and a 10.19 ERA in 17 2/3 innings, only gave up four hits and didn't walk a batter while striking out four.

"Obviously it's really easy to let down and get content when you've won the first three," Naturals manager Vance Wilson said. "To come out and do what he did today was very special."

Tenuta (2-1) said he's been working with Wilson and pitching coach Steve Luebber the last 10 days to try and correct some mechanical issues.

Tenuta said he thought he threw the ball well in his last start on May 4 in Springfield, when he pitched solid until the fourth inning.

The Naturals (18-12) also turned a double play in the fifth to help Tenuta get out of a jam.

"Today (against Arkansas) I just tried to stick to my mechanics," Tenuta said. "Threw some really good sliders in big situations. I was happy with how it went."

Luis Rico relieved Tenuta to start the seventh inning. Rico allowed a solo home run to Jay Baum to open the eighth inning as the Travelers (12-19) cut the Naturals' lead to 3-1. Rico then allowed back-to-back base hits by Brock Hebert and Chuck Taylor and he was relieved in the eighth by Tim Hill, who inherited runners at first and second with nobody out and the go-ahead run at the plate.

Hill struck out Ian Miller and then coaxed a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Ryan Casteel to end the threat. Hill then pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save.

"Our bullpen's been really good," Wilson said. "Our pitching's been really good, obviously after the first 12 games. We're really settling into roles. When you've got a guy like Tim who can come in from that angle and throw strikes and keep the ball on the ground, we're lucky to have him."

SHORT HOPS:

• The Naturals have won their last six home games and 11 of their last 12 at Arvest Ballpark.

• Naturals shortstop Jack Lopez saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end.

• Schwindel hit his sixth home run, a rocket near the Bud Light Cafe in left field. He also hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth to score Alfedo Escobar who doubled to open the inning.

• Evans hit his home run leading off the seventh inning.

On Deck: The Naturals are off today before starting a four-game homestand against the Tulsa Drillers at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday at Arvest Ballpark. Naturals right-hander Zach Lovvorn (2-2, 2.78 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Naturals while the Drillers have not announced a starting pitcher. The Naturals are 6-1 on the season against Tulsa. Wilson said the off day is coming at a great time.

"In the last three years, I can't remember any home off days inbetween two home series," Wilson said. "It's actually really nice. It's coming at a great time for us. Usually our off days are spent traveling down south, so it's nice to have it.

"I don't care if I see any of them until they've got to be here Thursday. They've earned it the way they're playing. They'll do some things -- fishing, golf. More than anything, it gives you a chance to get caught up in your life, so it comes at a good time."

Thursday's Promotion: It's Buck Night and Thirsty Thursday along with Night of 500 Giveaways. Buck Knight features $1 Farm Rich Mozzarella Sticks and small Coca-Cola fountain drinks along with $2 bags of peanuts at the concession stands and 16 oz. Pabst Blue Ribbon drafts at specific locations on the concourse. The Night of 500 Giveaways is a prelude to the Naturals' Night of 1,000 Giveaways on Aug. 26. Fans that arrive early will have the opportunity to select one giveaway item. Items may include but are not limited to T-shirts, caps, baseballs, and other popular giveaways from the past few seasons.

On The Air: 92.1 FM, The Ticket

On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com

Sports on 05/10/2017

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