Panzini Ks Seven in Naturals 6-1 Win Tuesday

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS -- Shane Panzini struck out seven over five scoreless innings in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (30-28) 6-1 win over the Arkansas Travelers (29-29) at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, AR. The two teams continue their series Wednesday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch.

The Naturals sent right-handed starter Panzini to the hill in the series opener with the Travelers in his second start and third appearance at the Double-A level. Panzini didn't disappoint. He took the mound in the bottom of the first with a 1-0 lead after Rudy Martin scored in the top of the frame on Brett Squires' RBI single. It stayed a 1-0 thanks to Panzini, though.

Panzini let up a double in the bottom of the second, and that was all. The Travs failed to put a runner on the basepaths from the second inning through the end of the 23-year-old's day where he struck out seven.

NWA scored two more runs in the fifth off reliever Leon Hunter Jr. Martin led off with a walk and Javier Vaz singled to right. Carter Jensen grounded out to second, but Martin scored to make it 2-0. With two outs, Squires doubled to left to drive in Vaz, extending the lead to 3-0. The Nats plated another on Martin's RBI single in the sixth and another when Gavin Cross singled to right, and later in the inning, Cross got caught in a rundown to allow Jensen to score while giving the Naturals a 6-0 lead.

The Travelers scored in the bottom of the ninth, but the Naturals closed out a 6-1 win in the series opener.

The Naturals and Travelers continue their series on Wednesday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. Fans can follow the action with the “Voice of the Naturals,” Shawn Murnin, on MiLB.TV, MLB.TV, the MiLB and MLB Apps, and nwanaturals.com with a subscription. Free audio is available through the MiLB App and team website, and fans can also stream for free on the Bally Sports Live app.