Climbing Jaycob's Ladder ... with One Rung to Go
September 17, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Jaycob Brugman of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
Jaycob Brugman went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI, as the RockHounds defeated the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, 8-6 on Wednesday night at Security Bank Ballpark to take a 2-0 series lead in the Texas League Championship Series. For Brugman, it was the fourth straight game in which he has homered. (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
The RockHounds scored five runs on two huge swings on the way to a 6-0 lead and went on to an 8-6 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Wednesday night at Security Bank Ballpark. The victory gives the 'Hounds a 2-games-to-none lead in the (best-of-five) Texas League Championship Series and brings the club to within one win of the first back-to-back championships in the franchise's 44-year history.
Renato Nuñez gave the RockHounds an early lead with a three-run line drive home run (through a 20-25 mile-per-hour cross wind) over the high wall in left field in the first inning. It was Renato's second home run of the postseason and pushed his RBI total to 12, leading all hitters in the Texas League playoffs (see additional notes, below).
The 'Hounds doubled the lead in the fourth, with Beau Taylor's RBI single followed by Jaycob Brugman's fourth home run in four games, a two-run drive into the left field bullpen (also see "Stat of the Day," below).
Chris Jensen did not allow a hit through four innings, and had given up just one run (on one hit and a walk) through five, before Northwest Arkansas struck back in the top of the sixth. Leadoff singles by Ramon Torres and Raul Mondesi were followed by Jorge Bonifacio's first home run of the postseason, a three-run blast to left that brought the Naturals to within 6-4.
The 'Hounds got two of the runs back in the seventh on an RBI double from Ryon Healy and Wade Kirkland's RBI fielder's choice (second baseman Torres saved another run on the play when he turned a deflection off the glove of first baseman Alex Liddi into a 3-4-6 putout).
The Naturals had two men on base with one out in the eighth, but Tucker Healy entered the game and struck out Liddi and Lane Adams (on a total of six pitches) to end the threat.
Northwest Arkansas rallied again in the ninth, scoring two runs (one earned) against Brendan McCurry, and had a runner on base with two out and Mondesi (the potential tying run) at the plate. McCurry struck the Royals' top prospect out looking to give the RockHounds their fifth straight postseason win, and their fourth in a row at Security Bank Ballpark (two over Corpus Christi and two over the Naturals).
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY I have always been taught to "give credit where credit is due." We whiffed on it, but Texas League President Tom Kayser dug into the record book for this terrific note. With his fourth home run, Jaycob Brugman passed Jeremy Brown and Josh Donaldson for the most postseason home runs in franchise history (Cubs, Angels and RockHounds). Jeremy (2005) and Josh (2009) each hit three, and both led the 'Hounds to the Texas League championship.
- The RockHounds, who had the league's best home record during the regular season (45-25), won all four playoff games at Security Bank Ballpark to finish the season 49-25 (a .662 winning percentage) at Rocky Town.
- With his last four home run swings, Renato Nuñez has driven in a total of eleven runs (three grand slams and Wednesday's three-run shot). In his last nine games (regular season and playoffs), Renato is 18-for-38 (.474) with four home runs (three grand slams) and 23 RBI. He is 9-for-22 with two home runs and 12 RBI through the first six games of the postseason.
Images from this story
 Jaycob Brugman of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
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Texas League Stories from September 17, 2015
- Hooks Respond to Word of Hamilton's Passing - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Kemmer Named Hooks Player of the Year - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Climbing Jaycob's Ladder ... with One Rung to Go - Midland RockHounds
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