Naturals Battle But RockHounds Take Game 2 by 6-4 Final
September 15, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (0-2) battled back from a six run deficit to cut it to only two in the seventh but the Midland RockHounds (2-0) showed their championship pedigree by taking Game 2 by a 6-4 final. The victory gives the RockHounds a 2-0 lead in this Best-of-5 Texas League Championship Series with Game 3 in Midland on Thursday night.
Game 2 was a pitcher's duel through the first three innings before Midland broke up the scoreless contest with a couple of runs in the top half of the fourth. Yairo Munoz and Viosergy Rosa led off the frame with back-to-back singles and both runners would advance a base on a sacrifice bunt. Munoz would then come in to score on a RBI single by J.P. Sportman, which moved Rosa over to third. The next batter Richie Martin would give the RockHounds an early 2-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to plate Rosa.
In the next two frames, the RockHounds offense would not let up as they would break the close game open with a three spot in the fifth and another run in the sixth. Munoz, the Midland third baseman, drove in Tyler Marincov with a RBI single after he had started the threat with a one-out double to left. Designated-hitter Anthony Paz would then deliver the key two-out, two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0. In the sixth, Richie Martin hit a solo home run to give the Hounds a commanding 6-0 lead.
Even with the six run deficit, the North Division champions would have a lot of fight left in them as Northwest Arkansas' offense would respond with three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh. Alfredo Escalera and Mauricio Ramos would begin the sixth with back-to-back singles before Frank Schwindel and Samir Duenez collected RBI singles to plate the first two runs of the inning. The third run would come in to score on a two-out error by the Hounds' second baseman to make it 6-3. In the seventh, the Naturals would take advantage of a couple of one-out walks before Ryan O'Hearn roped a RBI single to center-field to cut the deficit to only two. With two outs and runners and second and third, Midland would turn to their bullpen and call upon RHP Kyle Finnegan and the hard-throwing reliever came through by striking out Duenez to end the final Naturals' threat.
RHP Corey Walter (W, 1-0) of Midland earned the win as he kept the Naturals offense at bay throughout his 5.0 innings of work while RHP Jake Sanchez (S, 2) nailed down his second save of the postseason by striking out the side in the ninth. Meanwhile, for the Naturals LHP Eric Skoglund (L, 0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs in 4.1 innings of work to go along with five strikeouts and RHP Miguel Almonte was brilliant out of the Naturals' bullpen as he struck out four in 2.0 perfect frames.
Tonight marked the final game of 2016 at Arvest Ballpark. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals won the Texas League North Division Title for the second consecutive year and went a combined 41-33 at home during the regular season and playoffs.
Northwest Arkansas will hit the road tonight as the Texas League Championship Series shifts to Security Bank Ballpark in Midland, Texas. Game 3 of this Best-of-5 Texas League Playoff Series with the Midland RockHounds (Double-A Oakland Athletics) is tomorrow night - Thursday, September 15 - with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Northwest Arkansas will send the hard-throwing RHP Josh Staumont to the mound to face LHP Brandon Mann of the RockHounds in the all-important Game 3 with the Naturals trailing 0-2. You can catch all of the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for Naturals baseball on AM 1590 - the Ticket-2 at 6:40 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show.
Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on former Naturals in the Major Leagues as well as Season 10.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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Texas League Stories from September 15, 2016
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- One Step Closer...One Step Away - Midland RockHounds
- RoughRiders Cap 2016 as Double-A Attendance Leader - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Battle But RockHounds Take Game 2 by 6-4 Final - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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