Omaha scored the final seven runs to win a matinee rubber game vs. Iowa. Dusty Coleman started the scoring with a three-run blast off of former Royal Felipe Paulino. Paulo Orlando's RBI tied the game at 4-4 and Cheslor Cuthbert hit a go-ahead two-run homer. Danny Duffy fanned six without a walk over 3.2 innings in a rehab start, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits.
NW Arkansas Naturals (39-26)
NW Arkansas 9, Springfield 3
WP: Jonathan Dziedzic (4-3 with NW Arkansas, 4-4 overall)
HR: Jorge Bonifacio (11), Balbino Fuenmayor (12), Zane Evans (5 with NW Arkansas, 9 overall), Hunter Dozier (5)
The Naturals lowered their magic number for the first-half division title to one with an opening win at Springfield.