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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Sweet Sixth: Naturals sweep twin-bill from Cards

August 28, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- Jeff Bianchi's three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth propelled the Naturals from behind as they took game two of a twi-night twinbill by a 5-2 margin, sweeping a double header from the Springfield Cardinals at Arvest Ballpark. They took game one by a 3-2 final.

Five unanswered runs scored for the Naturals in the bottom of the sixth as the Naturals, held to just two hits in the first five innings, broke out the bats right on cue.

Though Naturals' starter Anthony Lerew had no problem throwing strikes early, Springfield had no problem hitting them, getting on the board in the first inning. After Lerew fanned Springfield's leadoff hitter, Jim Rapoport, Mike Folli singled and moved to second on a single by Andrew Brown. Steven Hill drove in Folli with an RBI double and the throw from Jarrod Dyson was in time to hold Brown at third. Lerew settled in to retire Tyler Henley on a liner to first and Joe Mather on a fly ball to left to strand the two runners in scoring position.

After allowing the three hits in the first, Lerew settled in and kept the Cards off the board in the next five frames. Springfield had two runners on off Lerew in just one other frame. Andrew Brown and Steven Hill, who hit safely in all three of his at-bats, both singled with two out in the third, but Tyler Henley grounded out to short to end the threat. Lerew would allow just two more hits in his outing.

Springfield's starter, southpaw Nick Additon, was even more impressive through five innings, allowing only one runner to reach second. That came in the second when David Lough doubled with one out and Corey Smith worked a walk. Additon worked out of the mini-jam by getting Jeff Howell to ground into the 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.

Everything unraveled for Additon and the Cardinals (27-32, 65-64) in the Naturals' half of the sixth. He walked Chris McConnell to start the frame. After he fanned Jarrod Dyson for the first out, Kurt Mertins doubled to right on a ball Springfield's right fielder Joe Mather appeared to lose in the lights. McConnell moved to third on the play. Jeff Bianchi followed and drove the first pitch from Additon into the cutout beyond the left-field fence to put the Naturals up 3-1.

Additon got Ed Lucas to popout for the second out, and then issued a walk to David Lough, which led to his departure. Blake King, making his Texas League debut out of Springfield's bullpen, could not stop the bleeding. Lough swiped second and came in on an RBI single by Corey Smith. Jeff Howell's ensuing double brought home Smith as the Naturals opened a 5-1 lead.

Aaron Hartsock came on for the seventh for Northwest Arkansas (32-28, 68-62) and got two quick outs. Pete Kozma fanned and Aaron Luna lined out to third. Colt Sedbrook followed and singled, advancing to second on defensive indifference. Jim Rapoport drove him in on a single to shallow left, to cut the lead to 5-2, but Mike Folli grounded out to end the game.

That made a winner of Lerew (9-6), who departed after the top of the sixth with the Naturals down a run. He worked around the seven hits allowed, yielded the lone run, fanned four and did not issue a walk. Nick Additon (2-3), the lefty that had the Naturals' batters tangled up for the first five frames, suffered the loss after collapsing in the sixth. He allowed four hits, four runs, and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, fanning six in the loss.

With Tulsa losing to the Travelers on Friday, the Naturals are now tied with the Tulsa Drillers for first place in the Texas League North Division. Tulsa now comes to town for a three game series that begins on Saturday night. The Naturals will throw right-hander Blake Johnson (7-8, 4.81) opposite left-hander Brandon Durden (7-2, 2.79) for the Drillers.

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.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics



Texas League Stories from August 28, 2009


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