MIDLAND, Texas -- Sean Manaea had some familiarity with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals prior to Tuesday's opener of the Texas League Championship Series at Security Bank Ballpark.
Manaea made two starts for the Naturals, a Kansas City Royals affiliate, earlier this season and had been a part of that organization since being a first-round pick in 2013.
At a glance
EXAS LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Best-of-5 x-if necessary
All times Central
TUESDAY’S GAME
Midland 5, NW Arkansas 2
Midland leads series 1-0
TODAY’S GAME
NW Arkansas at Midland, 6:30 p.m.
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.
Facing some old friends, Manaea did not let the emotions get to him as he went eight innings to propel the Midland RockHounds past Northwest Arkansas, 5-2, in Game 1 of the best-of-5 Texas League Championship Series.
Manaea, 23, allowed 2 runs, 8 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 7.
Manaea joined Midland in late July when the Oakland Athletics acquired him as the key prospect in a trade that sent major league utility man Ben Zobrist to Kansas City.
"First inning, I heard them chirping at me," Manaea said of his former teammates. "I expected that. It was hard to not smile just because I could hear everything they were saying. It was just a fun game."
With the RockHounds leading 5-2 in the top of the fifth, the Naturals had an opportunity as they loaded the bases against Manaea with one out.
Manaea retired Northwest Arkansas' Alex Liddi and Lane Adams with consecutive strikeouts to escape the jam.
"I just tried to bear down and do what I can to get outs without advancing these runners," Manaea said. "I was fortunate enough that they swung over those two fastballs. It was really exciting."
In the late innings, Manaea threw only five pitches to get through the seventh and nine pitches in the eighth inning.
The 6-foot-5 left-hander induced a double-play ground ball to Lane Adams in the eighth and struck out Bubba Starling to finish his outing on a high note.
"Something I have been working on this whole season is just getting deeper into games," Manaea said. "I felt like I was struggling a little bit in the middle innings -- third, fourth, fifth and something started clicking. I started throwing my changeup for strikes and I was getting swing and misses and a little ground balls so I feel that helped a lot."
The Naturals struck first in the top of the third when Raul Mondesi drilled a Manaea fastball into the left-center gap for run-scoring double. Mondesi eventually scored to push Northwest Arkansas to a 2-0 lead.
Midland bounced back in the bottom of the third as Jaycob Brugman hit home run down the the right-field line, his of the postseason. Later in the inning, designated hitter Renato Nunez singled home Anthony Aliotti to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Midland sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs to take a 5-2 lead that would prove to be the difference. The key hit was a two-out, two-run single by Aliotti to center, scoring Wade Kirkland and Bruce Maxwell.
In the fourth, the RockHounds chased Naturals starting pitcher Jonathan Dziedzic after he had already thrown 89 pitches through 3 1/3 innings.
Dziedzic struck out 5, but was beset by 4 walks. Dziedzic allowed 5 runs on 4 hits.
"He didn't pitch as bad as the line but at the same sense, there's a couple guys he usually puts away that he didn't and you tip your cap to them," Northwest Arkansas Manager Vance Wilson said.
Game 2 of the series is at 6:30 p.m. today at Security Bank Ballpark. Game 3 will be played at Arvest Ballpark at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will be held at Arvest Ballpark.
Sports on 09/16/2015