Travs, Naturals mix and match

The first half of the Texas League North Division season was decided in part by Northwest Arkansas' dominance over its in-state rivals three hours to the south.

The second half of the North Division was settled when the Arkansas Travelers paid back the Naturals by winning 2 of 3 games in the final series of the season.

The teams will meet again tonight in Springdale in the opening game of Texas League Divisional Series, with the winner of the best-of-5 series heading to the Texas League Championship Series.

"We're certainly not going in there feeling overmatched," Arkansas Manager Bill Richardson said.

That's how the Travs appeared throughout much of the first half of the season.

Northwest Arkansas won its first 11 games against Arkansas, 12 of 14 overall, and won the first-half title by 3 1/2 games.

The Naturals' roster evolved over the season, losing sluggers Mike Bianucci and Balbino Fuenmayor in the middle of their order for all of the first half. Biannuci was suspended 50 games for using a banned substance in June and Fuenmayor was promoted to Class AAA Omaha in July before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

The Travs went 9-5 against the Naturals, minus Bianucci and Fuenmayor, in the second half of the season, including victories on the final two days of the season to return to the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

"We've been consistently inconsistent," Richardson said. "We work on some short margins. This is what this club is about. For me, there's really only one way to spin that. We should be getting good at it."

Northwest Arkansas Manager Vance Wilson said he recognizes his roster has changed significantly but he isn't any less confident. The Naturals led the Texas League with 127 home runs and 629 runs scored, and their pitching has improved throughout the season.

Jonathan Dziedzic will start Game 1 tonight against Arkansas' Sean Newcomb. Dziedzic allowed 4 runs over 5 innings in a loss to Tulsa, but was 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in 5 starts in August. Luke Farrell, who was 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA in August, will start Game 2, while Brooks Pounders, who had a 2.27 ERA in August, will start Game 3.

The Naturals had a Texas League-low 3.12 ERA in August.

"No matter where you're at if you're pitching well, your starters are going deep and your bullpen is doing well, you've got a pretty good shot," Wilson said. "You have to hit, yeah, but pitching and defense have to be there for the playoffs."

The Naturals have potential in their lineup. Alex Liddi hit .287 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI, while Lane Adams hit .298 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI and Jorge Bonifacio hit .240 with 17 home runs and 64 RBI.

The Travelers, meanwhile, were last in the league with a .237 average and 60 home runs, and their 539 runs scored ranked seventh of eight teams.

Richardson said part of that is simply because of the makeup of Class AA teams, which includes a mix of high prospects, major-league players on rehab starts or recent major-league pitchers trying to make it back to the big leagues.

"I didn't realize how difficult it is to succeed at the plate," said Richardson, who managed a Class AA team for the first time this year. "It's a hodgepodge every night."

Arkansas will have a pitcher in one of those categories tonight.

Left-hander Sean Newcomb, the Los Angeles Angels' No. 1 overall prospect, will get the start. Newcomb is 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched over 7 Class AA starts. He has taken the loss in his past 2 starts, however, giving up 5 earned runs Aug. 30 at Northwest Arkansas and 2 in 5 innings at Springfield.

"I'm sure we're going to get a good start from him," Richardson said.

Sports on 09/09/2015