Kansas City Royals Affiliate Rolls to a 2-0 Series Lead
By Jason Burke
Now that the minor league playoffs are in full swing, it’s time to get caught up on some of the action. Today, we’ll focus on the Texas League. Only one team in all of the Double-A leagues, Kansas City Royals’ affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, are on the brink of moving on to the Texas League Championship Series. The Naturals earned their playoff berth in the first half of the season by going 40-30, tops in the Texas League North, and second only to the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros) who went an astounding 48-22. Both teams clinched early, while their first-round opponents, the Midland RockHounds and Arkansas Travelers secured their spots with stellar second halves. Of the four teams, the Naturals had the worst overall record when postseason play began at 69-70.
But none of that matters now, as Northwest Arkansas was won games one and two by scores of 4-3 and 5-3, with the series now shifting to Arkansas for a potential series-clinching Game 3. The most recognizable name on the Royals’ Double-A roster is Raul Mondesi Jr., son of former two-time Gold Glove winner and 1994 Rookie of the Year Raul Mondesi, and also the #1 prospect on the Kansas City farm. After batting .243 in 81 games this season, Mondesi is 2-for-7 with a home run and two RBI in the series. Thursday night it was Royals’ #12 prospect Hunter Dozier and #29 Lane Adams that would each drive in a pair with right fielder Jorge Bonifacio adding the team’s fifth run with a based loaded walk.
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All of the scoring in this game was done in the sixth inning, with Arkansas starting the inning with two singles, followed by a sac-fly to advance the runners before Raywilly Gomez singled home a pair for the Angels’ affiliate, giving them a short-lived lead.
The theme would continue in the bottom half of the inning as well, as the first three batters would load the bases with three consecutive singles. After a pitching change, Bonifacio walked then Alex Liddi struck out swinging. Lane would single home two to give the Naturals the lead, and after a Bubba Starling strikeout Dozier would plate the final two runs of the inning on a grounder up the middle.
In the other Texas League series, Midland (A’s) knotted up their series with the Hooks at a game apiece, breaking a 2-2 tie in the 9th with a seven spot in the top half of the inning. The big shot was a grand slam by Renato Nunez, who is now 3-for-8 with 5 RBI in the series. Midland also received a solid effort on the mound from Sean Manaea, acquired in the deadline deal with the Kansas City Royals for Ben Zobrist. Manaea went 7 innings and allowed two runs on just three hits while striking out eight. After joining Midland, Manaea went 6-0 in seven starts with a 1.90 ERA, striking out 51 over 42 2/3 innings.
Friday’s pitching match-ups include Kyle Westwood (11-7, 4.23) for Corpus Christi, who will be opposed by Chris Jensen (9-10, 4.87) of Midland.
In the all-Arkansas series, the Naturals will be looking to clinch with Brooks Pounders (3-4, 2.19) on the mound while Chris Ellis (7-4, 3.92) will try to keep the Travelers’ season alive.