TEXAS LEAGUE : Kaaihue powers Naturals back into lead in division
Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/225195/
SPRINGDALE — Back to. 500, back in a tie for first place.
First baseman Kila Kaaihue hit his Texas League-leading 10 th home run Thursday, and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals defeated the Springfield Cardinals 6-2 in front of 5, 816 at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals and Cardinals, both 17-17, are tied again atop the North Division.
The Naturals have won nine of their past 10 games at home and are 13-7 at Arvest Ballpark, the best home record in the league. They have two more home games before spending all of next week on the road.
“We played a lot of road games early when we weren’t swinging the bat well,” Naturals Manager Brian Poldberg said. “I’m looking forward to getting on the road and seeing how our demeanor is different because we have played well at home and the guys have confidence.”
Springfield had only five hits, and none over the final four innings. Left-hander Dusty Hughes, who was making his fourth start in place of the injured Dan Cortes, sailed through his first five innings, not letting a runner get past first base, before giving up two runs in the sixth.
In five-plus innings, Hughes (3-2 ) allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. He earned his second consecutive victory.
The Naturals’ bullpen was even better, allowing only one walk over four shutout innings. Submarine-style reliever Chris Hayes threw three of them, giving up a walk, which was immediately wiped out by a double play.
“[Hayes ] is one of those guys that’s got some deception,” Springfield Manager Pop Warner said. “He’s a submarine guy who changes speeds pretty good and moves in and out.”
Naturals left fielder Ed Lucas had his first two-hit game of the season. Kaaihue also had two hits, including a two-run home run to center field in the first. Kaaihue needed just 92 at-bats to get to 10 home runs. Eight of them have come at home. “There nothing I can put my finger on that makes me hit better here,” Kaaihue said. “I don’t know, I just like this place.” The Naturals scored three runs in the fourth, chasing Springfield starter Clayton Mortensen
2 after 3 / 3 innings. Juan Richardson led off with a double and Kaaihue singled. Mario Lisson hit a grounder to third baseman Allen Craig, but Craig made a throwing error, allowing Richardson
s and Brian McFall followed with RBI singles to put the Naturals up 5-0. Mortensen (1-3 ), the St. Louis Cardinals’ No. 7 prospect (Baseball America ), gave up 5 runs, 4
hits and 2 walks. He struck out six. Tyler Greene scored the Cardinals’ first run on a sixth-inning double by Shane Robinson, and Luke Gorsett’s sacrifice fly pulled Springfield within 5-2. Robinson, the league’s leading hitter, went 2 for 3 to improve his batting average to. 429.