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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals break late tie, edge Midland

August 13, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- Ed Lucas came through with an RBI single in the eighth inning, breaking a tie as the Naturals edged the Midland RockHounds 3-2 on Thursday night at Arvest Ballpark.

With one out, Bianchi drew a walk from Midland RockHounds reliever Jon Hunton (3-4). He moved into scoring position, swiping his seventh base as a Natural, and after Corey Smith fanned, Lucas lined a pitch from Hunton up the middle, off the top of Midland second baseman Jemile Weeks' glove and into center field. That brought Bianchi in and broke the tie.

Naturals' starter Blake Johnson was in control early as the RockHounds had a rough time stringing together hits. Johnson blanked Midland for the first six frames as the RockHounds got just one lone runner as far as second base.

The Naturals' offense appeared to provide Johnson enough to work with. Kurt Mertins scored the first run of the game on an RBI groundout by Bianchi, and a second run came in on an RBI double by Corey Smith. That scored Bianchi and put the Naturals up 2-0. Bianchi would cross the plate five innings later for his second run of the night which proved to be the game winner.

The explosive Midland offense seemed to get back on track in the seventh. Johnson's 3-1 pitch to Midland slugger Chris Carter, leading off the inning, ended up in the right field berm. It was the league-leading 22nd round tripper for Carter. RockHounds designated hitter Matt Spencer followed with a double off the top of the wall which sent Johnson to the showers. Aaron Hartsock relieved and induced a groundout off the bat of his first batter, Shane Peterson. That moved Spencer to third and put him in position to score on the ensuing sacrifice fly by Josh Donaldson which knotted the game at two.

Kyle Farnsworth, the Royals reliever in town on a minor league rehabilitation assignment, came on for the eighth. He issued a walk to Weeks to lead off the frame and then allowed a single to Archie Gilbert to put two runners on for Midland with nobody out. Farnsworth then got Corey Wimberly to pop out and Josh Horton to line out before departing, having reached his prescribed pitch count. Closer Juan Abreu came in and fanned Spencer to strand the two runners.

After Northwest Arkansas (28-18, 64-52) took the lead in the bottom of the frame, Abreu (1-1) came out for the ninth and issued a two-out walk to Corey Brown and a single to Weeks, but got Gilbert to pop out to second to end the game and secure his first win with the Naturals.

Midland starter Graham Godfrey lasted five innings in a no-decision, allowing two runs plus a walk while striking out four. Jon Hunton, who allowed the go-ahead run, was saddled with the loss for Midland (26-20, 63-53).

The Naturals now have a three game lead over the Tulsa Drillers, who lost to Frisco in extra innings Thursday, for first place in the Texas League North. Game two of this series is Thursday night at 7 P.M. The Naturals go for a sweep tomorrow with southpaw Everett Teaford (3-5, 5.46) going opposite Arnold Leon (1-1, 4.09), a right-hander, for Midland.

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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