MIDLAND -- The Midland RockHounds showed Wednesday night why they were the arguably the most potent offense in the Texas League during the 2015 season.
Sparked by the hitting of Jaycob Brugman, Anthony Aliotti and Renato Nunez, Midland defeated the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 8-6 on a windy night in Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series at Security Bank Ballpark.
At a glance
TEXAS LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Best-of-5 x-if necessary
All times Central
TUESDAY’S GAME
Midland 5, NW Arkansas 2
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Midland 8, NW Arkansas 6
Midland leads series 2-0
FRIDAY’S GAME
Midland at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAME
x-Midland at NW Arkansas, 2:05 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAME
x-Midland at NW Arkansas, 2:05 p.m.
The RockHounds took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series, which will resume at 7:05 p.m. Friday when Midland's Parker Frazier faces the Naturals' Luke Farrell at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Brugman hit a home run for the fourth consecutive postseason game Wednesday night during and was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI to go with two runs scored. Brugman's four home runs homers set a Midland franchise record for most home runs in a single postseason, surpassing the mark of three set by Jeremy Brown in 2005 and Josh Donaldson in 2009.
"I didn't know who it was but that's pretty cool," said Brugman when told that he passed Donaldson, now an All-Star third baseman for Toronto Blue Jays. "He's going to probably be an MVP this year. That's big company and I'm honored to be in that category."
Brugman lined a two-run home run down the left-field line in the fourth inning to give the RockHounds a 6-0 lead.
"It's usually pretty tough to get a home run out here, all year it has been," Brugman said. "You gotta be smart and pick spots. Today I went down the left-field line, it was kind of blowing towards that way. We call it smart hitting."
In the first inning, Nunez smacked a three-run home run to left, giving Midland an early 3-0 advantage. Nunez has 12 RBI this postseason.
Aliotti was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored for the league's regular-season leader in batting average and slugging percentage. Both of Aliotti's doubles were hit over the head of Northwest Arkansas center fielder Bubba Starling.
Despite being down 6-0, the Naturals made things interesting when Jorge Bonifacio launched a three-run home run off Midland starting pitcher Chris Jensen in the sixth inning.
Trailing 8-6 in the top of the ninth, Northwest Arkansas brought the tying runner to the plate with Raul Torres on base, but RockHounds closer Brendan McCurry struck out Raul Mondesi Jr. looking to end the contest.
"That's one thing about the Royals, the way we play and the way we preach, we don't ever give up," Naturals Manager Vance Wilson said. "I'm proud of the guys. They kept coming back."
Sports on 09/17/2015