Royals on the Farm 9/15 -- Nats up, Bees down

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 11, Midland 5 (Nats lead TLCS best-of-5, 1-0)

DH V. Wilson 3-3, BB, 2 2B, RBI (3), 2 RS, SB -- .462
LF Lough 3-5, RBI (2), RS -- .500
SS Bianchi 3-6, 2B (2), RBI (4), K -- .368
3B Mertins 2-4, BB, SF, 2B (2), 2 RBI (7), 2 RS -- .294
C Clark 2-4, BB, 2 RBI (4), RS -- .286
1B C. Smith 2-5, K, 2 RS -- .353
PH-DH Howell 1-1, RBI -- 1.000
CF Dyson 1-6, K, 2 RS -- .250
2B Maddox 1-4, BB, RBI (3) -- .250
* NWA stranded 12.

Lerew 6 IP, ER, 8 H, 4 BB, 6 K, HRA -- W, 2-0, 0.60 ERA, WHIP wasn't helped, but he'll take the W
Swaggerty IP, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA
J. Bannister IP, 2 H, K -- 0.00 ERA
Abreu 2/3 IP, 4 ER, H, 3 BB -- 54.00 ERA
Godin 1/3 IP, 2 H, K -- 0.00 ERA

*** It was Midland coming into the TLCS with the vaunted offense, but the Naturals put on a run-scoring display of their own Tuesday with runs in each inning from the 2nd through the 8th en route to taking a 1-0 series lead. Anthony Lerew labored to leave the bases loaded in the 1st and NWA took the early lead in the 2nd on a Vance Wilson RBI single. Lerew stranded 2 more in the 2nd and two errors on one play helped the Nats to another run in the 3rd. Lerew gave up a solo homer in the 3rd but the Nats got the run back in the 4th on another run-scoring RockHound error. Jeff Bianchi and David Lough hit RBI singles in the 5th and Lerew worked out of another bases-loaded jam that inning. Cody Clark and Kurt Mertins singled home runs in the 6th and Clark singled in another run in the 7th before Marc Maddox worked a bases-loaded walk and a Mertins sac fly made it 10-1. Pinch-hitter Jeff Howell finished the Naturals' scoring with an RBI single in the 8th. Juan Abreu walked the bases loaded in the 9th and the RockHounds were able to scrape out 4 runs before Jason Godin finally shut the door. The Nats got to all 4 Midland pitchers, but 5 'Hounds had multi-hit games.

Game 2 is tonight as Rowdy Hardy (4-4, 3.43) faces RockHounds righty Graham Godfrey (11-8, 3.50). No matter the series outcome, the Naturals will finish the season at home as games 3-5 are in Springdale.

A - Burlington: Fort Wayne 6, Bees 2 (Bees trail MWLCS best-of-5, 1-0)

3B Taylor 2-4, RBI (7), K -- .550
RF Ortiz 2-4, 2 K, RS, SB (3) -- .478
DH Griffin 1-4, RBI (4) -- .160
CF Norris 0-4 -- .182
C Bonilla 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .100
LF H. Richardson 0-3 -- .000

Melville 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K, WP, balk, pickoff -- 1.64 ERA
J. Garcia IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB -- L, 0-1, 34.71 ERA
Odenbach 2 IP, ER, H, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 WP -- 4.50 ERA

*** Fort Wayne got the game tied in the 5th and took over for good in the 6th. The Bees rallied with 2 out in the 1st as Shawn Griffin hit an RBI single but the bases were left loaded. Tim Melville allowed a run in the 1st but Jason Taylor hit an RBI single in the 3rd to make it 2-1 Bees. Melville balked home the tying run in the 5th before leaving the bases full. Justin Garcia took over in the 6th and was battered for 3 runs. The Bees' offense went dead in the 5th as the last 13 Bees went down in order. They only had 1 baserunner after Taylor's RBI single in the 3rd as FW SP Erik Davis got the win.

Game 2 is tonight as Mike Lehmann (5-7, 5.85) faces TinCaps righty Chris Fetter (2-1, 2.22). As with the Naturals' series, the Bees will also finish the season at home as games 3-5 are in Burlington. I guess 94 wins doesn't get you home-field advantage in the MWL.