SERIES PREVIEW: NATURALS HOPE TO CONTINUE RECENT HOME SUCCESS
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals welcomed back 2013 starting shortstop Orlando Calixte in their previous homestand, during which, the Naturals took three out of four from the Springfield Cardinals (Double-A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals). The Naturals return to Arvest Ballpark this weekend to oppose first place Tulsa (Double-A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies), after dropping two out of three at the in-state rival Arkansas Travelers (Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).
Friday night will be the first of a split four-game series with the Tulsa Drillers, playing Friday and Saturday at Arvest Ballpark, then at Tulsa for Sunday and Monday. The Drillers sit atop the North Division after winning six of their previous eight, including three out of four over the Springfield Cardinals this past week.
This is the third meeting between these two teams, each team with four wins, and the second split four-game series. In the previous split series, the road team won every game while holding the home team to one run in each game. In addition, the two teams combined for 20 runs in the entire four game series. Similarly, this four-game set could feature more pitching duels as the Drillers will send the top two pitching prospects in the Colorado Rockies farm system, Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler, to open and close the series. The Drillers rank second in the Texas League allowing just 139 runs on the season.
The Naturals have certainly had their own success on the mound; one in particular has been exceptional. After a scoreless inning in last nights loss to the Travelers, relief pitcher Andrew Triggs holds a microscopic 0.75 ERA, and has not allowed a run since April 17, totaling 15 innings in that time.
The Naturals bats, however, lifted the Naturals greatly in their previous homestand. The lineup has plated 24 runs during their current three game winning streak at Arvest Ballpark. In which, recent addition Orlando Calixte hit two home runs, including a walk off solo shot. Justin Trapp, Whit Merrifield and Cheslor Cuthbert also homered, while Jorge Bonifacio drove in seven runs including a Grand Slam.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (15-24) - May 16 thru May 19
GAME 1: RHP Jonathan Gray (3-2, 3.22) v. RHP Andy Ferguson (2-2, 4.99) May 16 - 7:05 p.m. Arvest Ballpark
*The Colorado Rockies No. 1 overall prospect is coming off his third win of the season and his second in his last three outings. Gray beat the Arkansas Travelers on Saturday, May 10 pitching into the seventh inning for the first time this while throwing just 78 pitches - 57 of which went for strikes. The 6-foot-4 right-hander allowed one run on four hits and struck out just two in the victory. He's a power arm that is continuing his quest of entering the Rockies rotation before season's end. Over his last three starts, Gray has logged 18 innings, allowed just three earned runs for an earned run average of 1.50 while fanning 15 across the 18 frames. Gray has not lost since April 23.
* The Benton, Ark. native is coming off his second win of the season after suffering back-to-back losses. Ferguson tied a season-high with six innings of work while striking out seven, also tying a season and career-high in strike out. He was extremely efficient around the strike zone throwing 72-percent of his 79 pitches for strikes. The right-hander allowed just two runs over the six frames, one of which was earned, while not allowing a free pass throughout the contest. The key for Ferguson's success is working with an up-pace tempo throughout his start. He exhibited this in his May 10 start against Springfield by firing just 20 pitching (seven in the first, 13 in the second) over the first two innings.
The game can be heard on 1030 KFAY with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 6:50 pregame show.
GAME 2: LHP Tyler Anderson (3-1, 2.57) v. RHP Jason Adam (0-4, 6.44) May 17 - 6:05 p.m. Arvest Ballpark
*The lone loss on Anderson's record came on April 17 at ONEOK Field to Northwest Arkansas when the Naturals plated four runs on five hits in the southpaw's four innings of work. The Naturals took advantage of a three run inning in the second highlighted by Whit Merrifield's three run home run to curtail the start for Anderson, his shortest of the year. The left-hander has won two of his last four starts while the other two have been no-decisions. He's coming off one of the two no-decisions from May 11 against the Arkansas Travelers when he tossed five innings for the fourth straight time allowing two runs and striking out a season-high seven in the effort. Anderson has not demonstrated tremendous longevity on the mound entering the sixth inning just once this season and never surpassing 81 pitches in an outing. The Naturals will look to get to him early.
*The last two starts for the Kansas City Royals No. 9 overall prospect have been solid turning in back-to-back strong starts. Adam has been a tough-luck pitcher though being delayed his first win of 2014 after having won eight games for the Naturals in 2013. The Overland Park, Kan. native has pitched into the sixth inning in each of his last four starts and over his last 12 innings has allowed six earned runs. He also rebounded well after allowing four runs to cross in the first inning against Arkansas on May 12 by not allowing a single hit over the next five frames. Look for Adam to start strong in his eighth start of the year in-front of a comfortable home crowd at Arvest Ballpark.
The game can be heard on 1030 KFAY with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 5:50 pregame show.
GAME 3: RHP Tim Melville (1-3, 3.38) v. RHP Richard Castillo (1-2, 3.92) May 18 - 2:05 p.m. ONEOK Field
*Melville is coming off back-to-back losses in hopes of turning around momentum in the push to the All-Star break. The 6-foot-5 right-hander started strong in his pervious outing against the Travelers on May 13 by allowing just three hits over the first four innings before Arkansas took advantage of a couple of walk to score four runs. Melville has been the workhorse for the Naturals this season logging a team-high 40 innings of work and continues to hold one of the best ERAs in the Texas League. He is holding opponents to just a .216 good fifth lowest in the league. Melville will make his fourth road start of the year and holds a 1-1 record with a 3.00 ERA on the road while fanning 19 hitters in the 15 innings away from Springdale.
*When Castillo takes the ball for his eighth start on Sunday, May 18 it will be over a month since the right-hander has won a game. The Venezuelan hurler has made two starts against the Naturals this season compiling a record of 0-1 with a 3.67 ERA. He tossed six innings allowing two earned runs against the Springfield Cardinals on May 13 and lowered his ERA back below four. Over his past three starts, Castillo has surrendered five home runs including three in a road start at Springfield and holds a 6.19 ERA allowing 11 runs in 16 innings. Castillo does not strike out many batters (5.54/9innings) but holds great command of the strike zone walking just 12 hitters in 39 total innings of work. Against the Naturals he's walked just four while struck out 10 in 11 innings.
The game can be heard on 92.1 the Ticket with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 1:50 pregame show.
GAME 4: RHP J.C. Sulbaran (1-2, 3.71) v. RHP Eddie Butler (2-4, 2.98) May 19 - 11:05 a.m. ONEOK Field
*Sulbaran will make his third start against the Tulsa Drillers - a team he has dominated over the course of his Double-A career. The right-hander holds a 1-0 record on the 2014 season with a 0.75 ERA against the Drillers. Sulbaran appeared in seven games against Tulsa in 2013 and allowed just one earned run on four hits across 11 innings while fanning five. This season, Sulbaran looks forward to pitching against Tulsa - especially at ONEOK Field - where he has made two starts and allowed one earned run in 12 innings. The Curacao native is coming off the season's shortest outing at home against Springfield on May 11. He went just 4.1 innings while walking a season-high four; but in his May 5 start against the Travelers, Sulbaran logged a season-high seven frames while striking out five and scattering three hits and one earned run. Look for Sulbaran to utilize his change up which has been extremely effective for him all season long.
*The numbers Butler put up last season in the Texas League (1-0, 0.65 ERA 6 games started, 27.2 IP) are starting to resurface after beginning the season slightly sluggish. Butler acknowledged in a recent interview of the in-depth scouting reports teams have on him which has forced him to be more creative and intricate in his pitch selection. Butler is coming off back-to-back seven inning starts in which he won the most recent of the pair. He shut out the Springfield Cardinals on May 14 scattering six hits and fanning four. The Naturals defeated Butler at ONEOK Field on April 26 with Justin Trapp delivering a single to score Angel Franco in the eighth inning en route to the 2-1 win. Northwest Arkansas will look to recreate that game on Monday in a day game.
The game can be heard on 92.1 the Ticket with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly with a 10:50 pregame show.
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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