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NATURALS SECURE SERIES WITH WALK-OFF WIN

Taylor Featherston drives in the game-winning run in the eleventh as Northwest Arkansas wins, 5-4
Franco Terrero earned his first win largely because of 2.0 shutout frames in extras on Saturday, April 6. (John Owen)
April 7, 2019

SPRINGDALE, Ark - With the game-winning run just 90 feet away in the bottom of the eleventh, Taylor Featherston delivered a single to right field and Northwest Arkansas (3-0) walked off as winners on Saturday night. The exciting 5-4 win over the Springfield Cardinals (0-3) gives the Naturals their first

SPRINGDALE, Ark - With the game-winning run just 90 feet away in the bottom of the eleventh, Taylor Featherston delivered a single to right field and Northwest Arkansas (3-0) walked off as winners on Saturday night. The exciting 5-4 win over the Springfield Cardinals (0-3) gives the Naturals their first series win and moves them to 3-0 for the first time in franchise history.   
After both teams were held scoreless in the tenth, the Naturals kept the Cardinals off the board again in the eleventh as Franco Terrero (W, 1-0) struck out the side to give his offense a chance at late-game heroics. Terrero, whom had given up the game-tying two-run home run to Dylan Carlson with two outs in the ninth, rebounded to pitch 2.0 scoreless extra inning frames.
In the eleventh, Xavier Fernández began the inning at second base. The Naturals' catcher was robbed of his own glory just an inning earlier as he flew out to Carlson in left center and the Cardinals outfielder threw out Khalil Lee at the plate for the final out in the tenth. Fernandez, though, would get some payback in the eleventh. His lead from second base caused an errant pick-off attempt from reliever Jacob Patterson (L, 0-1), which moved him over to third. That set the stage for Featherston and he came through with the big hit to right field against a five infielder and two outfielder alignment for the 5-4 walk-off win.

Early in the game, Anderson Miller drove in a run in the second and Conner Capel doubled home a run for Springfield in the third before the Naturals used a three-run frame in the home half of the third to create some separation from the Cardinals.
Lead-off hitter Nick Heath got things started during the second time through the Naturals batting order. The speedy outfielder reached on a bunt base hit before advancing to second base on a wild pitch. After another wild pitch and a walk to Lee put runners at first and third, Samir Dueñez lifted a sacrifice fly to right to give Northwest Arkansas a 2-1 lead. Three straight singles by Emmanuel Rivera as well as the aforementioned Fernandez and Featherston scored two more for the 4-1 advantage.
Springfield would add another tally in the seventh on a Carlson RBI double but the offense would stall in extras after his ninth inning blast and the Naturals eventually claimed their 12th win over the Cardinals in their last 14 attempts at Arvest Ballpark.
Right-hander Gerson Garabito made his Double-A debut for the Naturals and was solid during his four innings of work. Garabito, whom won the ERA title in the Carolina League during the 2018 after posting a 3.16 ERA with an 8-6 record over 26 games, was able to limit the opposition to just a run on four hits while striking out two. He did not factor into the decision.
The Naturals continue to hit the ball well this season as they pound out 10 more hits, which gives them 30 on the year. Rivera led the way by going 3-for-3 on the night while Heath and Featherston each chipped in two hits in the contest.
Northwest Arkansas will continue their season opening 7-game homestand w by looking for the 4-game series sweep of the Springfield Cardinals (Double-A St. Louis) tomorrow afternoon - Sunday, April 7 - with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Sunday's game is presented by PEEPS® and is the first Kids Eat FREE Sunday of the year, which features Mercy Kids Run the Bases following the conclusion of the game. The Naturals will send a newcomer to the hill in right-hander Ofreidy Gomez and he'll square off against fellow righty Harold Arauz of the Cardinals. Catch the play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on KQSM 92.1 The Ticket at 1:45 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch.
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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