MIDLAND, TX - Jemile Weeks hit a go-ahead three-run homer and Graham Godfrey settled down after a rocky second inning as the Midland RockHounds beat the Naturals 7-6 on Wednesday, squaring the best-of-five Texas League Championship at one game apiece.
Weeks' blast was the third longball of the sixth inning for the RockHounds, and turned a 5-2 Naturals lead into a 7-5 deficit. It came off of reliever Chad Orvella (0-1), who came on in relief of starter Rowdy Hardy, who was removed after allowing two solo homers to Midland's Shane Peterson and Archie Gilbert plus a one-out single to Josh Horton. The first batter Orvella faced, Corey Wimberly, singled through the hole on the left side to put two runners on for Weeks, who launched his ball over the short porch in right.
Early on, it appeared that the Naturals would be rolling again as they looked for their fifth consecutive playoff win. But a run they didn't get ended up proving very costly. Jarrod Dyson, who tripled to leadoff the game, came home on a flyball to center field. Third base umpire Mike Lusky ruled that Dyson left base too early, and Midland relayed the throw back to their third baseman Alex Valdez who stepped on the base to double up Dyson, ending the inning.
That seemed inconsequential as the Naturals plated five runs in the second. An RBI single from Vance Wilson and a two-run double from Cody Clark put the Naturals up by three, and Marc Maddox's home run brought in Clark for the 5-0 lead.
Midland got an easy run in the bottom of the frame when Matt Spencer and Alex Valdez led off with consecutive doubles, and were able to manufacture a second run. A groundout by Shane Peterson moved Valdez to third, and then Corey Brown was hit by a pitch. Archie Gilbert followed and worked a walk, and Valdez came home on the ensuing fielder's choice groundout from Josh Horton, which was hit too softly for Naturals' second baseman to turn for an inning-ending double play.
After getting past the second inning, Midland's starter Graham Godfrey really settled in, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. The Naturals lone baserunner over that timeframe was Ed Lucas, who was plunked to start the sixth and promptly erased on a twin-killing off the bat of David Lough. Godfrey settling down appeared to relax the Midland hitters, setting them up for the big inning in the bottom of the sixth that put them up 7-5.
The Naturals were able to cut their lead in half in the eighth. Jeff Bianchi singled with one out, and, after Ed Lucas flied out, David Lough singled to put runners at first and second with two out. Midland skipper Darren Bush then summoned Jon Hunton, who recorded two saves during the Divisional Series against San Antonio. Corey Smith followed and greeted Hunton, the third reliever on the evening for Midland, with a single to center that brought Bianchi in to bring the Naturals within a run. But Hunton got Vance Wilson to ground into a force out to end the threat.
After Aaron Hartsock came in for the bottom of the eighth and allowed a one out triple to Corey Wimberly, Midland looked like they might get the run back but Northwest Arkansas second baseman Marc Maddox was able to get Wimberly coming home on a grounder by Jemile Weeks to save the run and keep the Naturals within a run.
The Naturals were able to get the tying run on base in the ninth when Jarrod Dyson singled with two outs, but Kurt Mertins, swinging at Hunton's first pitch, watched as his fly ball to center landed safely in the glove of Midland outfielder Corey Brown a step or two in front of the warning track. Dyson finished the evening 3-for-5.
The series now shifts to Arvest Ballpark for the remainder of the series beginning with game three on Friday night at 7 P.M. Right-hander Blake Johnson (8-8, 4.57) will toe the rubber for the Naturals against veteran right-hander Kyle Middleton (5-2, 2.69) for Midland. Great seats are available, but if you cannot make it to the ballpark, the game can be heard live on KURM 790 AM and online at www.kurm.net.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.
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