Marte Does It Again
July 13, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
In the first three games of the four-game series between the RockHounds and San Antonio Missions at Security Bank Ballpark, Jefry Marte has been playing the game at a different level than, well, anyone else.
Wednesday, the RockHounds third baseman was a perfect 5-for-5 and Thursday he went 3-for-5 with a walk-off home run in the last of the ninth. Friday, he walked off again, this time lacing a single deep into left-center field, giving the 'Hounds a 3-2 win in 10 innings. Jefry is now 10-for-14 (.714) in the series, with four doubles, a home run and five RBI, including a pair of walk-off hits .
The Missions and 'Hounds exchanged single runs in the first and again in the ninth, sending the game into "extras."
In the last of the 10th, Billy Burns drew a leadoff walk and stole second base (his league-leading 43 thievery of the year). Missions reliever Luis De La Cruz then tried to pick Burns off second, but threw the ball into center field, with Billy moving to third on the error. D'Arby Myers was called out on a tough third strike, and the Missions walked Max Muncy intentionally to set up a potential inning-ending double play. The possibility of also walking Marte to load the bases must certainly have been considered, but the Missions elected to pitch to him, and Jefry delivered, driving a 1-2 pitching into left-center (the hit would have been Marte's fifth double of the series, but is officially credited as a single with Burns scoring from third).
The RockHounds won their eighth straight and now own the Texas League's best overall record at 51-39.
WP: Jose Flores (1-1, 3.60)
LP: Luis De La Cruz (4-7, 1.76)
Kibbles & Bits
- The RockHounds won their eighth straight game and moved to 12 games over .500, both season highs ... the win was the 'Hounds 15th in 23 games (correcting the record) versus San Antonio in 2014 (8-4 at Nelson Wolff Stadium and 7-4 at Security Bank Ballpark).
- The 'Hounds (13-7) lead Corpus Christi (12-9) by a game-and-a-half ... San Antonio (11-10) by two-and-a-half and Frisco (10-10) by three in the Texas League South Division. Corpus Christi belted the RoughRiders, 12-4, at Frisco, winning for the eighth time in 10 games. The 'Hounds and Hooks open a four-game series Sunday at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.
- Jefry Marte has now hit in 8-of-9 games (15-36, .417) and has reached base in 20-of-his-last-21 games (26-74, .351, corrected). In those 21 games, he has added 12 walks and a hit by pitch (plus four sacrifice flies) for a .429 on-base percentage.
- San Antonio's leadoff batter reached base in each inning from the sixth through the 10th, with only one of those runners scoring ... and the Missions had the leadoff man on base in 6-of-the-last-7 innings.
- Missions starter Bryce Morrow went 7.0 innings, allowing one run (earned) on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 1.38 in six starts. The RockHounds' Nate Long (8-4, 3.12) also allowed just one run over 6.1 innings (eight hits, three walks and four K's).
- The RockHounds scored the tying and winning runs on a total of one hit (Marte's walk-off). The 'Hounds tied the game on three walks and an error in the ninth (both ninth-inning runs were unearned) and the game-winner on two walks, a stolen base, a throwing error and one hit. After scoring 17 runs on 26 hits over the first two games of the series, the 'Hounds won Friday's game on just a five-hit attack.
- Billy Burns saw a six-game hit streak come to an end, but drew the critical leadoff walk in the 10th and was followed by his 43rd stolen base in 46 attempts. Billy leads the league by nine steals (Corpus Christi's Delino DeShields, Jr. has 34 in 41 attempts).
- The clubs conclude the series (and home stand) Saturday night. First pitch is at seven o'clock with fireworks following the game.
Next Game
vs. San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' AA Affiliate)
Saturday, July 12 - 7:00 p.m. (Radio at 6:53 p.m.)
Security Bank Ballpark
Probable Starters
San Antonio: Justin Hancock (RH, 1-1, 3.71)
RockHounds: Drew Granier (RH, 4-4, 3.31)
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Texas League Stories from July 13, 2014
- Drillers Limited to Only 2 Hits in Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Capture Series Opener 5-1 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Suffer Lop-Sided Defeat in Series Opener - San Antonio Missions
- Marte Does It Again - Midland RockHounds
- RockHounds Extend Streak to Nine - Midland RockHounds
- Frisco Forces Split - Corpus Christi Hooks
- San Antonio Missions Game Notes: July 13 vs. Frisco (6:05 PM CST) - San Antonio Missions
- Frisco RoughRiders Game Notes - Frisco RoughRiders
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