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Midland RockHounds

Frisco Pitching Dominates Hounds

August 1, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


The Frisco RoughRiders won the South Division first half pennant and have had the Texas League's best overall record for most of the 2014 season. In the second half, the RockHounds have taken over the division lead and have been in a back-and-forth race with the RoughRiders for the league's best overall mark. The RoughRiders, you could say, have sent a "reminder" that they are still the league's top club.

The teams have now met twice ... home-and-home ... over the past 11 days, with Frisco winning both series' and taking 5-of-7 games.

The RoughRiders captured the three-game set at Dr Pepper Ballpark with a one-hit shutout Wednesday night, defeating the RockHounds, 3-0. Texas Rangers left-hander Derek Holland made a rehabilitation start, going two innings (two walks and four strikeouts) in his 2014 debut. Martire Garcia followed with a 1-2-3 third inning and Alex "Chi-Chi" Gonzalez went the last six for the win. Dusty Coleman's line drive to right in the seventh was the 'Hounds' only hit. The two-out single, which followed a one-out walk to Jefry Marte, brought the tying run to the plate, but Gonzalez induced a ground ball to second to end the only real scoring threat the 'Hounds had in the game.

Sean Murphy went seven strong innings, and might have also put a goose-egg on the board. In the second, Trever Adams' base hit to right eluded Jeremy Barfield's sliding attempt to block the ball, which rolled to right field wall. Adams rounded third and, when the throw to the infield went between the mound and third base, was waved home to complete the inside-the-park home run (the game's only extra-base hit). Murphy then retired the next three batters.

An fielding error opened the door for a pair of "manufactured" Frisco runs in the third and, while both runs went into the scorebook as "earned," at least one of the tallies (and probably both) could have been avoided without the miscue.

WP: Alex Gonzalez (4-3, 2.44)

LP: Sean Murphy (4-2, 3.67)

HR: Frisco - Trever Adams (12) Solo, inside-the-park, in the second (off Sean Murphy)

Kibbles & Bits

- The RockHounds are now 19-9 (.679, corrected) in their last 28 games and 44-30 against the South Division (three games better than Frisco at 41-33) ... the win pushed Frisco (63-46) a game-and-a-half ahead of the 'Hounds (62-48) for the best overall record in the Texas League ... the RoughRiders lead the season series, 12-10 ... Frisco is 7-4 at Dr Pepper Ballpark and the 'Hounds are 6-5 at Security Bank Ballpark.

The RockHounds (24-16) now lead Frisco (23-17) by one game, with San Antonio (20-20) drawing to within four games of the top spot and Corpus Christi (18-22) still six back in the TL South second half race.

- "One Hit? That's All We Got? One (Fill-In-The-Blank) Hit? " - - - Harry Doyle, Major League

Yep, and it was one more than Corpus Christi got. While Frisco was shutting the RockHounds out on one hit, San Antonio no -hit the Corpus Christi Hooks, 6-0, at Whataburger Field in Corpus. James Needy went 7.0 innings for the win ... striking out seven ... with Frank Garces and R.J. Alvarez (acquired recently from the LA Angles as part of the trade for former RockHound Huston Street) closing the game, pitching one inning each. The Missions' celebration was delayed, however, as a play in the sixth ... originally scored a hit ... was later changed (after video review) to an error. The miscue allowed the Hooks' only base-runner of the game.

- Hiro Nakajima is sidelined after being hit in the batting helmet by a pitch Tuesday night. He suffered a laceration above the left eye and is expected to be sidelined "a few days." Hiro has hit in six straight games (the streak is intact as the HBP came in his first plate appearance), going 9-for-25 (.360) with two home runs and seven RBI.

- The 'Hounds now return to Security Bank Ballpark to open a 10-game (11-day) home stand, hosting Corpus Christi (Thursday-Sunday) and (after the Texas League's first scheduled off day since July 8) and a pair of three-game sets with Tulsa and Springfield. The 10-gamer includes two "Thirsty Thursdays" (July 31 & August 7), two Saturday firework shows (August 2 & 9) and two Sunday day games (August 3 & 10).

Next Game

vs. Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros' AA Affiliate)

Thursday, July 31 - 7:00 p.m. (Radio at 6:53 p.m.)

Security Bank Ballpark

Probable Starters (*)

Corpus Christi: Michael Hauschild (RH, 2-6, 3.89)

Jordan Jankowski (RH, 3-5, 4.26)

RockHounds: Nate Long (RH, 9-6, 3.36)

(*) Corpus Christi employs a tandem ("piggy-back") starter system for some games

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