Offensive Onslaught: Naturals take Game 1
Published on September 15, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
MIDLAND, TX - The Naturals offense tied a season high with 18 hits and capitalized on five errors by the RockHounds defense as they beat Midland by an 11-5 final on Tuesday evening in game one of the Texas League Championship Series.
A passed ball and successive errors allowed the Naturals to plate single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings and they kept piling on from there, keeping the RockHounds' offense in the rearview mirror as they led the entire way.
Anthony Lerew, who turned in one of the most dominating starts of his career against Springfield in the first round, was not as good but was effective through six innings. And unlike Midland, the Naturals made the defensive plays behind Lerew when he needed the boost.
Lerew and his defense stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the first and stranded two more runners on in the second before Midland even got on the board. Josh Donaldson's solo shot to leadoff the third was Midland's first run. That cut the Naturals' lead to 2-1 and was all Midland would get until the bottom of the ninth.
Vance Wilson's RBI single in the second had plated Corey Smith for the Naturals' first run. Smith had singled and moved to second on the passed ball committed by Donaldson, the Midland backstop.
In the third, Kurt Mertins walked with two out and 'Hounds second baseman Jemile Weeks misplayed the ensuing grounder by Jeff Bianchi, which should have easily retired Mertins for the forceout at second to end the inning. Instead, Weeks mishandled it and it skipped into the outfield, where it skipped by Midland center fielder Corey Brown. Mertins ended up scoring for the 2-1 lead. Vance Wilson ended up scoring the third run for Northwest Arkansas when he doubled with two out in the fourth and Midland first baseman Shane Peterson missed the relay from the third baseman Corey Wimberly on a grounder from Cody Clark. Wilson went 3-for-3 on the evening.
Although Midland's defense only committed one more error the rest of the way, the damage was done as the 'Hounds starter Arnold Leon (0-1) was removed on a short pitch count. He was charged with all three of the unearned runs in his four inning effort. He allowed four hits, walked one, and fanned three.
Meanwhile, the Naturals' offense never let off the accelerator, scoring eight runs off a trio of Midland relievers. Northwest Arkansas scored two in the fifth and sixth, three more in the eighth, and another in the ninth to put the game far out of reach. Jeff Bianchi and David Lough joined Wilson in having three hits for the Naturals, and each had an RBI single in the Naturals' two-run fifth. Kurt Mertins and Cody Clark each had two hits, including RBI singles during the two-run sixth, and Clark had another RBI single in the three-run seventh that also included a bases-loaded walk and sacrifice fly.
Midland would get four runs across in the ninth inning as Naturals' reliever Juan Abreu had issues finding the strike zone, walking the bases loaded and allowing a two-run single to Shane Peterson before being removed in favor of Jason Godin, who allowed consecutive RBI singles to Archie Gilbert and Jemile Weeks before retiring Matt Sulentic on strikes to end the game.
Lerew (2-0) ended up working around eight hits and four walks in six innings, allowing just the lone homer in the third. He fanned six and got an assist by a defense that turned three double plays. The RockHounds' league-leading offense did not help their cause by stranding 13 runners on the evening.
Game two of the series is slated for Wednesday evening at 6:30 P.M. in Midland before the series shifts to Arvest Ballpark for game three on Friday night. Right-hander Graham Godfrey (11-8, 3.50) starts for Midland opposite soft-tossing lefty Rowdy Hardy (4-4, 3.43) for the Naturals. 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.
Texas League Stories from September 15, 2009
- Offensive Onslaught: Naturals take Game 1 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Texas League Championship Preview - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hall-of-Famer Milo Hamilton Joins Miracle Dinner Program - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Good Luck To Naturals And Rockhounds - Springfield Cardinals
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