BARTSCH BAFFLES ROUGHRIDERS, NATURALS FALL IN WALK-OFF
FRISCO, Texas - Kyle Bartsch found out he was starting the series opener against the Frisco RoughRiders (43-42/6-11) Saturday night around three o'clock in the afternoon. He pitched like he knew he was starting all along. The 25-year old left-hander twirled 5.0 innings of three-hit baseball in his second career start against Frisco; but did not factor in the decision as Kellin Deglan, hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to walk-off on Northwest Arkansas at Dr. Pepper Ballpark.
The Naturals plated a first inning run after a one-out double by Corey Toups who scored on a two-out single by Frisco native, Ryan O'Hearn. Bartsch protected that lead his entire start.
Bartsch worked out of trouble in the second and fifth innings, dancing around a lead-off hit in each frame. The 5.0 innings of shutout baseball is the longest appearance in Bartsch four-year professional career. The Hurst, Texas native struck out one and scattered three hits in the spot start, in place of scheduled starter, Pedro Fernandez who was scratched due to shoulder soreness.
Frank Schwindel extended the Naturals lead to 2-0 with his 14th home run off the season, off Frisco starter, Nick Martinez, his fifth homer in the last 11 games. But the RoughRiders tied the game on a Lewis Brinson homer in the last of the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2.
After the RoughRiders took a 3-2 lead in the 7th inning, Schwindel came up clutch again in the eight. Toups drew a lead-off walk off reliever, Jose Valdespina (3-1, 3.26) and stole second base. Schwindel singled up the middle to plate Toups to tie the game, again, at 3-3.
Evan Beal fired a scoreless home half of the frame and set up the heroics for Jack Lopez in the ninth. Humberto Arteaga collected his third Double-A hit on a single of Valdespina with one out in the ninth, moved to second after a walk to Carlos Garica and scored on a long double into right-center by Lopez to give the Naturals a 4-3 lead.
Beal began the ninth inning and recorded the first out; but left with a runner at first, giving way to Mark Peterson (1-1, 3,72). After the closer achieved the second out in the inning, Delgan hit a two-run, walk-off homer over the out-reached glove of O'Hearn in left to give the RoughRiders a 1-0 series lead.
Schwindel finished 2-for-4 on the night with a pair of RBIs to lead the offense.
Northwest Arkansas continues the three-game set against the Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers) on Sunday night with Game 2 of the set. Left-hander, Matt Strahm (3-7, 3.17) makes his 16th start of the year against MLB rehabber, Yu Darvish (1-1, 1.20).
Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, for a 5:45 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show, leading up to the 6:05 p.m. first pitch from Dr. Pepper Ballpark. Hear the broadcast on the flagship station of the Naturals, 92.1-FM, the Ticket.
Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the Season Nine of Naturals Baseball, tickets, groups, promotions, roster, season standings, player statistics, and updates on Naturals alumni.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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