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Midland RockHounds

An Unlikely Hero (Villain) & the RockHounds Marching Band

June 21, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


Midland RockHounds Left Fielder J.P. Sportman
Midland RockHounds Left Fielder J.P. Sportman
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Forrest Allen)

Of all the scenarios in which a winning run is produced, an RBI double (with two out and an 0-2 count) by the number nine hitter in the order is not very high on the probability list. Just don't tell that to Frisco's Alberto Triunfel. With the game tied, 2-2, in the top of the seventh, Triunfel faced an 0-2 count. After fouling off a pair of two-strike pitches, he delivered the game-winning hit, a double just inside the bag at the third and down the line into the left field corner, scoring Joe Jackson, who had walked to lead off the inning.

Triunfel's unlikely heroics came one inning after Andy Ibanez's game-tying, two-run home run in the sixth (all three Frisco runs came at the expense of RockHounds reliever Kris Hall).

The RockHounds took a 2-0 lead, thanks largely to J.P. Sportman, who had a pair of doubles and a single and drove in both RockHounds runs. In the third, Brett Vertigan singled to right field, extending his hit streak to eight games (and his on-base streak to a dozen) and scored when Sportman took the next pitch deep to left for an RBI double. Yairo Munoz led off the fifth with a single and (after an Andy Paz walk and a perfect sacrifice bunt from Vertigan) scored on Sportman's third consecutive hit of the night, a single to right.

While they held the lead much of the way, the 'Hounds missed three opportunities to expand their advantage before Frisco got on the scoreboard. Sportman doubled with one out in the first, but Frisco starter Victor Payano got the next two batters. In the fourth, Matt Chapman was at third with no outs after his leadoff double into the left field corner was misplayed by Chris Garia, but Payano retired the next three hitters, stranding Chapman at third. Wade Kirkland led off the sixth with a single, but the hit was wiped away on a 6-4-3 double play.

By escaping those scoring threats, Payano earned the win. He pitched one out into the seventh, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven. Jose Valdespina came in with one on and one out in the seventh and retired eight consecutive batters to end the game (and earn his second save of the season) as the RoughRiders won for the fifth time in six tries at Security Bank Ballpark this season.

Lost along the way was a brilliant start from Corey Walter, who pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, with one walk and one strikeout. While normally limited to four innings per appearance, Walter's pitch count through four frames was only 38 (with 30 strikes), so the right-hander went five innings, departing with a 2-0 lead. Both Walter and Payano have been selected for the Texas League All-Star Game.

And the marching band? We (still) don't have one, but if we did, they would be taking the field - - it's "halftime" (see "Stat of the Day," below).

The RockHounds

... finished the first half of the Texas League season 33-37 (17-18 at Security Bank Ballpark and 16-19 on the road) ... since the Oakland A's affiliation began (in 1999), this is just the tenth time the club has finished under .500 in 35 half-seasons ... the 'Hounds are 5-9 versus Frisco (1-5 at Rocky Town and 4-4 at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco) ... are 3-4 through the first seven games of their 13-game (12-day) home stand ... are 21-25 versus the South Division.

... continue their 12-day stay at Security Bank Ballpark hosting Frisco on Tuesday and Wednesday (6:30 p.m. first pitch both evenings) before San Antonio returns for a four-game weekend set which includes a "Thirsty" Thursday and postgame fireworks on Saturday.

Kibbles & Bits

STAT of the DAY 0-0 ... as in "zero-and-zero." When the eight Texas League clubs arrive at their respective yards Tuesday, they will all have the same record ... 0-0 ... as the second half race begins.

- Brett Vertigan has an eight-game hitting streak (11-for-30, .367) and has reached base in 12 straight games (13-for-40, .325 with a .460 OBP).

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics




Images from this story

Midland RockHounds Left Fielder J.P. Sportman
Midland RockHounds Left Fielder J.P. Sportman
(Forrest Allen)		   

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Texas League Stories from June 21, 2016


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