Diamonds in the Rough 4.8

BATTING
2B: Van Slyke (1, O’Sullivan).
3B: Herrera 2 (2, Verdugo, Sisk), Castellanos (2, O’Sullivan).
HR: Baisley 2 (2, 4th inning off Verdugo, 0 on, 0 out; 8th inning off Hottovy, 0 on, 0 out), Van Slyke (3, 4th inning off Verdugo, 0 on, 0 out), Sands (1, 6th inning off Sisk, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Van Slyke 7; Federowicz 4; Castellanos 4; Sands 5; Herrera 6; Baisley 9.
RBI: Herrera 2 (2), Baisley 2 (2), Van Slyke 2 (4), Sands 2 (4), Federowicz (3), Castellanos (1).
2-out RBI: Sands; Herrera; Castellanos.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Baisley; Sands; Herrera; Fields.
Team RISP: 4-for-14.
Team LOB: 9.

BATTING
2B: Dyson (2, Nieve), Giavotella (1, Nieve), Kouzmanoff (4, Nieve).
3B: Lough (1, Nieve), Abreu, T (2, Nieve).
HR: Ramirez, M (1, 3rd inning off Leach, 3 on, 1 out).
TB: Dyson 5; Kouzmanoff 4; Robinson, D 2; Romak; Robinson, C; Giavotella 4; Lough 5; Abreu, T 5; Ramirez, M 5.
RBI: Giavotella (2), Robinson, C 2 (2), Lough (2), Abreu, T 3 (6), Kouzmanoff 2 (6), Romak (1), Dyson (1), Ramirez, M 4 (7).
2-out RBI: Abreu, T; Romak; Dyson.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Robinson, D 3; Robinson, C.
GIDP: Ramirez, M, Robinson, C.
Team RISP: 12-for-23.
Team LOB: 11.BASERUNNING
SB: Robinson, C (1, 2nd base off Nieve/Federowicz).

FIELDING
E: Lough (1, throw).

Verdugo pitched to 3 batters in the 4th.

HBP: Romak (by Nieve), Robinson, D (by Loop).

NW Arkansas Naturals 3 San Antonio Missions 0 

W: Baumann (1-0, 0.00) L: Beard (0-1, 5.40)
S: Keating (2)

The Naturals took advantage of a rattled pitcher in the first inning of their game Sunday and then received solid pitching to take home a 3-0 win in their first of a three game set at San Antonio.  Missions pitcher Hayden Beard hails from Australia and his actions in the first were a bit down under when the righty tried a pickoff throw to third base to try to catch Rey Navarro napping, instead his throw got away from Padres third base prospect Jedd Gyorko allowing Navarro to come to score.  With the Naturals up one the pitcher could have been rattled a tad because on his very next pitch he gave up one just a bit too sweet for  John Whittleman who unloaded on it for his first home run of the season giving NW Arkansas a quick 3-0 lead.  Beard encounterd a little trouble in the 2nd but worked around it and settled down to shut out the Naturals for the next four innings but his early damage was enough to do in his teammates thanks to outstanding pitching from NW Arkansas.  Starter Justin Marks got things going early for the staff giving them 4 shutout innings while working around 3 walks and a pair of hits thanks in part to his 5 strikeouts.  After Marks left Missouri State alum Buddy Baumann kept up the outstanding work with 5 strikeouts of his own and just a couple base runners allowed over 3 innings before giving way to Patrick Keating who pitched the final two innings scoreless to earn the save for the Naturals.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Rey Navarro	2B	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.125
Christian Colon	SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.111
Wil Myers	CF	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.313
John Whittleman	1B	4	1	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	.231
Terry Evans	RF	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.222
Sharlon Schoop	3B	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	.125
Carlo Testa	LF	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.273
Kurt Mertins	DH	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Ryan Jenkins	C	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250

The Rocks were staring a series sweep down to start the season with runners on second and third and already in a 1-0 hole yesterday.  For manager Vance Wilson it was a perfect time to turn to 2011 Carolina league veteran Ryan Dennick and boy did he deliver, Dennick quickly extinguished the rally striking out Edgar Garcia to get out of the mini jam and then stepping up to 4 more innings of one run ball.  While Dennick was slowing down the Pelicans offense 2011 fellow veteran Whit Merrifield was carrying the Rocks offense punching in two runs during a 5th inning three run rally to give the Rocks a two run lead.  Whit likely wasn’t thinking he’d be headed to Wilmington after a decent season there last year but Kansas City asked him to work on his second base defense which he will likely do once Brett Eibner returns to man center.  Up two Dennick and Nick Rogers would finish off the job earning Wilmington’s first win and salvaging the final game of the series.

Wilmington Blue Rocks
Player	Pos	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Whit Merrifield	CF	4	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	.167
Alex McClure	SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.167
Cheslor Cuthbert	3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.222
Brian Fletcher	LF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.182
Geulin Beltre	RF	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.182
Jake Kuebler	1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.250
Kenny Swab	C	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Angel Franco	DH	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.100
Luis Piterson	2B	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333