Baseball: MLB all-star, Frisco fall to Mondesi, Naturals

Raul Mondesi safely steals second base as the throw gets past Frisco second baseman Andy Ibanez on Monday, July 4, 2016, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Raul Mondesi safely steals second base as the throw gets past Frisco second baseman Andy Ibanez on Monday, July 4, 2016, at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

— Most fans came to Arvest Ballpark for the postgame fireworks Monday, but the baseball world had its eyes on the field.

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Frisco pitcher Yu Darvish delivers a pitch against the Naturals on Monday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

The Royals' No. 1 prospect, Raul Mondesi, returned to Northwest Arkansas' lineup, and three-time MLB all-star Yu Darvish made a rehab start for Frisco. The Naturals won 4-3.

Mondesi, who was suspended 50 games for using performance-enhancing drugs, went 0 for 2 with three walks out of the 2-hole as the designated hitter. He also flashed his speed on the base paths, stealing three bases and beating a throw to score on a squeeze bunt.

"Obviously it's huge, any time you can add that kind of speed at the top of the order," Naturals manager Vance Wilson said. "(He got) a huge jump at third base on what wasn't a great safety squeeze bunt. It was great for the team."

His first two plate appearances -- both were walks -- came against Darvish, who was in his first outing since the Texas Rangers placed him on the disabled list with right shoulder discomfort June 9.

Darvish walked the first two batters he faced but settled in with three straight strikeouts. He credited the early struggles to trying a new method in which he put his last two fingers in the pinky hole of his glove, mimicking Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.

He earned the loss, giving up three runs -- two earned -- on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts but said he was pleased with the outing.

"Last time I got off the mound at the big leagues, I was in pain," Darvish said through an interpreter. "Today, my goal was to get off the mound with no pain. I feel good, so it was a good step to getting back to major league outings."

Darvish plans to make two more minor-league rehab starts before rejoining the Rangers.

Short Hops

• Mondesi's run came on a squeeze bunt by Corey Toups and gave Northwest Arkansas a 3-2 lead in the third inning. The Naturals added to their lead with a Humberto Arteaga RBI ground out in the fifth. That proved to be the difference, as Kellin Deglan hit a solo home run for the RoughRiders in the sixth.

• Kyle Bartsch (2-1, 4.17) picked up the win for the Naturals, allowing only one run in three innings of relief. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three.

• None of the Naturals' four runs came on base hits. In addition to the squeeze bunt and RBI ground out, Northwest Arkansas scored on an error and a wild pitch.

On Deck: Northwest Arkansas concludes its three-game series against Frisco at 5:35 p.m. today. Left-hander Matt Strahm (2-6, 3.38) will pitch for the Naturals and right-hander Luis Ortiz (1-3, 3.14) takes the mound for the RoughRiders.

Today's Promotion: Fans with unused 2016 tickets can redeem them for a reserved seat. Arvest customers can purchase premium tickets for $5. Select concession stands along the concourse will sell brats for $1.

On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1

On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com

Sports on 07/05/2016

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