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Midland RockHounds

Midland, Texas ... the Tall Goose-Egg City

June 26, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


Midland, Texas, is known as the "Tall City" (space and time do not allow an explanation; you'll have to trust us and/or Google it), but the town has transformed into the "goose-egg capital" of the Texas League over the last three days. The 'Hounds' 3-0 shutout win over the San Antonio Missions on Sunday afternoon at Security Bank Ballpark was the third consecutive blanking in the series (see "Stat of the Day," below).

As they did in Friday's (7-0) win, the RockHounds broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. J.P. Sportman led off with a single to left field and Franklin Barreto followed with a double to the wall in right, putting runners at second and third. The 'Hounds barely took advantage of the opportunity, scoring just once in the frame (on Viosergy Rosa's RBI ground out), but added two more runs in the fifth. Matt Chapman walked to lead off the inning and Danny Oh came up with a critical hit, beating out a bouncing ball to second base for an infield single. Sportman followed with an RBI single to center and Oh scored moments later on an error to Missions third baseman River Stevens.

Four RockHounds pitchers combined on the four-hit shutout, with Corey Walter (see below) going the first four innings. Jake Sanchez faced and retired six batters (in the fifth and sixth) for the win ... Kyle Finnegan went two innings for the "hold" ... and Bobby Wahl earned his first save with a scoreless ninth. After giving up an infield on a bouncer to shortstop to open the inning, Wahl retired the next three batters to close the door, securing the 'Hounds eighth shutout of the season. Wahl struck out Jose Rondon (a top-five prospect for the San Diego Padres) and Nick Torres (who entered the game leading the Texas League with a .307 batting average) to end the game, flirting with triple-digits on the radar gun in the process.

The win gave the RockHounds a 3-1 win in the series with San Antonio, as the league's eight clubs enter the All-Star break (see below).

The RockHounds

... are 4-2 in the second half and 37-39 overall ... have won four of their last five games ... posted their eighth shutout of the season (the 'Hounds are 8-3 in shutout games) ... are 21-20 at Security Bank Ballpark and 16-19 on the road ... are 10-10 versus San Antonio (8-5 at Rocky Town and 2-5 at Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio) ... finished the homestand 7-6 ... are 25-27 versus the South Division.

... resume play on Thursday at Springdale, Arkansas, against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in a three-game series (June 30-July 2), followed by a three-game set with the Travelers in North Little Rock, Arkansas (July 3-5). The RockHounds then return home on Wednesday, July 6, hosting those same two North Division clubs in a six-game homestand at Security Bank Ballpark.

Kibbles & Bits

STAT of the DAY: Zeroes! The RockHounds shut out San Antonio, 7-0 on Friday on one hit ... the Missions returned the favor, 16-0 on Saturday (on a fireworks night, thank you very much) on a two-hitter ... and the 'Hounds blanked the Missions on Sunday on four hits.  

- Corey Walter, who will be one of six players representing the RockHounds and Oakland A's at Tuesday's Texas League All-Star Game, reached the All-Star break with another outstanding performance. The right-hander went four scoreless innings on Sunday afternoon, allowing two hits and no walks, while striking out three. In 17 appearances (11 starts) for the RockHounds, the former West Virginia University star is 1-2 with a 2.36 earned run average. He opened the year in the bullpen before moving into the rotation when Daniel Mengden (now with Oakland in the big leagues) was called up to Triple-A and has been terrific in both roles (2.63 ERA out of the bullpen and 2.28 as a starter).

- J.P. Sportman (2-for-3, run, RBI, hit by pitch) is 9-for-23 (.391) in his last six games and is hitting .298 (28-for-94) over his last 24.

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 26, 2016


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