OGANDO WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT IN 8-0 WIN OVER MIDLAND

MIDLAND, Texas - Emilio Ogando has been the top pitcher in the Texas League since July 17. The newly-christened 25-year old owned the third-lowest earned run average at 0.93 since July 17 entering his 23^rd start of the season on Wednesday night against the Midland RockHounds and all he did was shave the ERA even lower.
Ogando (10-6, 4.98 ERA) worked 6.0 innings of two-hit baseball and earned his fifth straight win, working his third straight quality start in the Naturals 8-0 blanking of Midland at Security Bank Ballpark on Wednesday night.
The left-hander faced the minimum through his first three frames and worked around a lead-off double by Eli White in the fourth - his only true threat against him on the evening - to keep the 'Hounds off the board. Following the White two-bagger, Ogando retired the next seven straight batters before surrendering a one-hit in the sixth inning to Luis Barrera for the only other knock allowed.
Ogando has thrown four straight starts of shutout baseball and has posted a 24.0 inning scoreless streak, dating back to his final inning of work on July 22 against the Tulsa Drillers. It marks the longest scoreless inning stretch by Ogando in his career and his five-game winning is also a career best.

The offense came to his aid early. In the second inning against starter, Brian Howard (2-3, 3.93), outfielder, Alfredo Escalera started a streak of three-straight one-out base hits to load the bases. Erick Mejia hit a shot to second baseman, Richie Martin which couldn't be handled to bring home the Naturals' first run.
The next batter, Jecksson Flores roped a two-run single into centerfield to extend the lead to 3-0 and to prolong his current hitting streak to 14 games - his third-longest streak of the season.
In the third inning, Alex Liddi padded the score with his 21^st home run of the season to make it 5-0. Liddi is now tied for third in the Texas League with 21 home runs and has hit the most in a single-season by a Natural since Mike Moustakas hit 21 homers in 2010.
Kelvin Gutierrez made it 8-0 with his three-run homer in the fourth inning - his fifth of the year - all coming off Midland starter, Howard.
After Ogando fired his six innings of shutout baseball, Yunior Marte took over and retired the final nine batters in a row to notch his second save on the season, punching out JP Sportman to close out the contest.
Northwest Arkansas (59-62/24-27) will look to win the team's seventh series in the last eight in the rubber match against the RockHounds on Thursday night at Security Bank Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch.
Right-hander, Jon Perrin (0-0, 3.60 ERA) will make his second start for the Naturals and his second consecutive start against Midland. The RockHounds will send right-hander, Sam Bragg (4-5, 4.09 ERA) to the mound for his fourth start of the season and second straight against the Naturals.
Northwest Arkansas defeated Bragg in the second game of the double-header on Aug. 8, putting up two runs on six hits against him in three innings in the 2-0 win in seven frames.
Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, with a 6:40 Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to the first pitch on the flagship station of the Naturals, 92.1-FM, the Ticket and across the Naturals' Radio Network.
Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Facebook and Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the 2018 season of Naturals baseball.
 
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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