Northwest Arkansas, looking for its first win of the young season, busted loose Sunday afternoon. The Naturals, hitting six home runs as part of
a 17-hit attack, defeated the RockHounds, 16-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas.
Hunter Dozier and Bubba Starling hit two home runs each on a day in which the wind in Northwest Arkansas resembled that of West Texas - gusting to 35 miles-per-hour. Raul Mondesi and Mauricio Ramos also homered for the Naturals and Orlando Calixte had the game’s biggest hit
- - a bases-loaded, three-run double in the third inning. The Naturals broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the third (all with two out) and
plated five more in the fourth to break the game open. Piggy-back starters Joel Seddon and Sam Bragg were roughed up for eight runs each.
The RockHounds had opportunities early, with two men on (including leadoff doubles) in the first two innings and a leadoff single in the third,
but could not break through. The loss drops the ‘Hounds to 2-2 with two games remaining on the season-opening six-game road trip.
RockHounds
NW Arkansas Naturals
Yender Caramo
Joel Seddon
None
NW Arkansas
NW Arkansas
NW Arkansas
NW Arkansas
NW Arkansas
NW Arkansas
2
16
7
17
0
1
7
5
(1-0, 0.00)
(0-1, 19.64)
Bubba Starling
Hunter Dozier
Raul Mondesi
Hunter Dozier
Bubba Starling
Mauricio Ramos
(1)
(1)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(1)
A 2-run HR in the fourth
Solo in the fourth
Solo in the fifth
Solo in the fifth
A 2-run HR in the seventh
A 2-run HR in the eighth
(off Joel Seddon)
(off Sam Bragg)
(off Sam Bragg)
(off Sam Bragg)
(off Sam Bragg)
(off Sam Bragg)
… continue their season-opening road trip with Monday and Tuesday evening games (7:05) against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in
Springdale, Arkansas. The set opens Sunday afternoon (2:05) at Arvest Ballpark, with to follow (both 7:05).
… open their home season next Thursday (April 14) at Security Bank Ballpark. The ‘Hounds will meet the same two clubs they are facing on
the road trip, hosting the Arkansas Travelers (April 14-15-16) and Northwest Arkansas Naturals (April 17-18-19) in a six-game home stand.
Tickets are on sale now at the Security Bank Ballpark ticket office and online at midlandrockhounds.org.
STAT OF THE DAY
Matt Chapman’s solo home run Saturday night was, technically, his first base hit at the Double-A level, but
RockHounds fans know better. “Chappy” was with the club in 2014, earning Most Valuable Player honors (as named by
Minor League Baseball) in the Texas League playoffs. When third baseman Jefry Marte was lost to injury on the next-tolast day of the regular season, Matt was called up to the ‘Hounds after spending his first pro season (he was Oakland’s # 1
draft choice in June of 2014) from Beloit, where the (Single-A) Snappers’ season was over. Matt went 0-for-3 in the last
regular season game (at Frisco), then hit .310 (9-29) with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in the postseason
(along with outstanding defense), helping the RockHounds win the first of their back-to-back TL titles.
- Oh-Two, Oh My One of the hurdles in making the transition from Single-A to the Double-A level is “putting hitters away.” The majority of
Northwest Arkansas’ 16 runs involved Naturals’ hitters overcoming 0-2 starts in at bats or plate appearances. In the third, Frank Schwindel
led off and fell behind Joel Seddon, 0-2, before singling to left on a 3-2 pitch. That at bat was followed by two outs before the Naturals
scored five runs. Back-to-back home runs from Bubba Starling (off Seddon) and Hunter Dozier (off Sam Bragg) in the fourth also started
with 0-2 counts, as did Carlos Garcia’s seventh-inning leadoff single, which was followed (two outs later) by Starling’s second homer.
vs. NW Arkansas Naturals
Monday, April 11
Arvest Ballpark
(Kansas City Royals’ AA Affiliate)
7:05 p.m.
Radio 7:00 p.m.
Springdale, Arkansas
Day
Monday
Tuesday
(RH, first start)
(RH, 1-0, 1.50)
RockHounds
Dylan Covey
Chris Jensen
at NW Arkansas Naturals
Game Time
Eric Skoglund
(LH, first start) 7:05 p.m.
Alec Mills
(RH, 0-1, 1.80) 7:05 p.m.