Naturals Take Game Two With Power And Defense
After winning game one,5-1, the Naturals would face Wichita in a makeup game of their postponed game on Thursday. In game two the Naturals would win, 4-1, and get their first doubleheader win of 2023. In what was a great day of baseball in Northwest Arkansas we will briefly analyze the win, who played well, and what is next.
How Did It Happen?
The Naturals would trail in the top of the 1st when Yoyner Fajardo would score on a Tyler Tolbert throwing error to put the Wind Surge up 1-0. In the bottom of that inning, the Naturals would score their four runs in the game. After Peyton Wilson scored on a John Rave single to tie the game it was Jorge Bonifacio who would ignite the crowd of 4,743. Bonifacio would hit his 7th HR of 2023 when he would send a blast to left field to score Tolbert, Rave, and himself.
Wichita would make this game close when they would cut the lead to two, in the top of the second. In that inning, the Surge would score on a steal to second after two pickoff attempts. In the sixth inning, things would get interesting when Seth Gray would go deep to right field to make it a one-score game, 4-3.
Pitching was key for the Narutals as the starter, Beck Way, who would perform well in his appearance, Way would pitch 3 innings allowing 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, and 1 K on the day. Coming in after way was T.J. Sikekema, who would get the win, pitch 2 innings allowing no runs and have one K on the day. After Sikkema was Jefri Del Rosario, who would enter in the 6th inning, and allowed 1 run on the above-mentioned HR, in his one inning of work.
He would leave the game in the hands of a guy who has been crucial this season. Jacob Wallace would enter the game in another tight spot in a one-run game. Wallace would face 5 hitters allowing 2 walks and have one K on the day. After the two walks combined with a hit batter, it would load the bases with one out. Wallace would get a double play to end the game when DaShawn Keirsay would hit into this to close the game.
This win would make the Naturals record 13-12 on the season. This is the first time the Naturals have been above .500 since their opening win of the season,
What Is Next?
The next game in this six-game series takes place on Saturday night. The Naturals will look for their first series win, at home, since the last series of the 2021 season. NWA will start lefty Andrew Veneziano {3-1, 2.08 ERA} while the Wind Surge will start righty Blaine Enlow {0-0, 3.05 ERA}.
