For the second time this season, Mike Anders gave up 14 runs combined to lead the Royals to their doubleheader sweep: this week over Brumley’s Braves, 17 – 9, and Eusay’s Tigers, 15 – 5. Anders' two gems catapulted the Royals into a tie for third place with three other teams in their division. The Royals backed Anders’ stellar efforts with an over-achieving defense and timely hitting, led by Spencer Manz, Sheldon Fulton, and Reese Leonard as the Royals accomplished the rare feat of scoring in every inning of the doubleheader. Every Royal had at least one hit in each game, as the Royals pounded out 43 hits (14 of which were of the extra base variety) and 32 runs. That is how good things went for the Royals Sunday morning at Spirit Park in Allen; a total team effort where every single Royal contributed.
In the opener, the Braves jumped out to an early 2 – 0 lead courtesy of Matt Brumley’s 2-run moon shot, the first of his two round trippers in the game. Singles by Spencer Manz and Reese Leonard preceded Max Henry’s 15th homerun of the season as the Royals took the lead in the bottom of the first.
A significant momentum shift occurred in the top of the second, when the Braves plated two more to retake the lead 4 – 3, and had the bases loaded with two outs, with the dangerous Brumley due up again. Brumley – who accounted for five of the Braves’ nine runs – worked the count full, before Anders pitched himself out of trouble by inducing Brumley to hit a hard smash down the third base line that Henry short hopped and then stepped on the bag to end the inning.
The Royals promptly rebounded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the frame and never looked back. Leonard’s 2-run double keyed the inning after Jason Hanlin – who had a huge game – singled to lead off the inning and moved to third on Cameron Moore’s double.
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Hanlin and Leonard were the catalysts again in the third when Hanlin tripled with two outs and the bases empty and scored on Manz’ RBI single. After Moore singled Manz to second, both players scored on Leonard’s 2-run single. Fulton’s fifth homerun of the season, and Hanlin’s RBI double closed out the Royals’ scoring in the bottom of the sixth.
The Braves scratched across single runs in the third and fifth, and then two more in the six on Kevin Knox’ 2-run bomb. Brumley’s bookend homerun in the top of the seventh made it 17 – 9, which was the final score of the game when – fittingly – Manz made an outstanding sliding catch in the vast gap between left and right center field with a runner on first.
While the run support for Anders wasn't exactly overwhelming in any one inning, it was extremely consistent.
Game 1 Offensive Stars
Sheldon Fulton 4 – 4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
Spencer Manz 3 – 4, 3 Runs, 3 RBI, HR
Reese Leonard 3 – 4, 2 Runs, 4 RBI, 2B
Jason Hanlin 3 – 4, 2 Runs, 1 RBI, 2B, 3B
Robert Garcia 2 – 4, 2 Runs
Mike Anders 2 – 4, 1 Run
Cameron Moore 2 – 5, 2 Runs, 2B
Greg Oetzmann 2 – 4, 1 RBI
Max Henry 1 – 4, 2 Runs, 4 RBI, HR
In the nightcap, the Royals looked to avenge an 8 – 5 early season loss to the Tigers when the Tigers’ star rookie, Taylor Abrego, was a one-man wrecking crew. In this week’s rematch the Royals decided not to make it as close or as dramatic.
Anders turned in a masterpiece, scattering six hits, with no walks over six innings for the victory against a good hitting Tigers team that had just hung 15 runs on the Dash in their previous game.
The Royals opened the game by scoring two runs with two outs. Leonard singled and Henry was unintentionally intentionally walked. Fulton made the Tigers pay for their lack of respect by doubling both runners home.
In the top of the second, Asher Feltman circled the bases for an exhilarating inside-the-park homerun as the right fielder dove for and missed his base hit to right field, increasing the Royals’ lead to 3 – 1. The Royals scored three more in the third with Robert Garcia’s 2-run, bases loaded single keying the inning. While the Tigers countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, the Royals’ offense broke the game open with four runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
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Manz continued his big day by tripling to lead off the fourth and scored on Moore’s second double of the doubleheader. Manz’ power show continued the next inning as he launched his third homerun of the season, leading off the fifth.
Fulton made two highlight reel, game altering plays in right center field. First, throwing a runner from second out at home plate (his fourth outfield assist of the season) in the bottom of the second, and then a diving catch to end the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Game 2 Offensive Stars
Spencer Manz 4 – 5, 2 Runs, 1 RBI, 3B, HR
Reese Leonard 3 – 4, 3 Runs, 3B
Robert Garcia 3 – 4, 2 Runs, 3 RBI
Max Henry 2 – 3, 4 Runs, 2 RBI, BB
Sheldon Fulton 2 – 3, 1 Run, 2 RBI, BB, 2B
Asher Feltman 2 – 4, 1 Run, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
Déjà vu: Anders Dominates as Royals Sweep
