RockHounds Are All Heart (Of the Order)
April 22, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Ryon Healy, Matt Chapman and Viosergy Rosa of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Alan Jamison & Mark Wagner)
"The book" (not available in stores) says the numbers three, four and five hitters in a team's batting order are expected to be the most productive bats in the lineup. Apparently, the RockHounds did some reading on Thursday morning's bus ride to San Antonio.
Ryon Healy, Matt Chapman and Viosergy Rosa (3-4-5) went a combined 8-for-14, with two home runs, three doubles, a triple and six runs batted in, providing the "heart" of a 16-hit attack in the RockHounds' 9-2 win in the opener of a four-game series at Nelson Wolff Stadium over the Missions.
Healy and Chapman went back-to-back in the fifth inning, with "Chappy's" solo shot to right-center (on an 0-2 pitch) following Healy's three-run blast to right. The consecutive jacks turned a 2-1 lead into a 6-1 advantage, one the 'Hounds would not relinquish.
Chapman went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, two runs and an RBI; Healy finished 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and a triple and Rosa (see "Stat of the Day," below) went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Josh Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI (his two-run home run in the ninth capped the scoring) and Danny Oh added a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Daniel Mengden stretched his scoreless innings streak to 21.1 innings before allowing a run and went on to earn his first win.
The RockHounds
... are 8-5 (5-1 mark at Security Bank Ballpark and 3-4 on the road) and have won four straight and six of their last seven. The RockHounds remain two games in back of first-place Frisco (10-3) in the Texas league South and are now tied with Corpus Christi for second place. With division play beginning, the RoughRiders defeated the Hooks, 5-2, at Corpus Christi.
... continue their first divisional road trip of the season with game two of a four-game series at San Antonio on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY Viosergy Rosa started his night at the plate ... and drove in the game's first run in the process ... with an outstanding at-bat. After Matt Chapman doubled leading off the second, "Vio" fell behind in the count, 0-2. He then ran the count to 1-2, fouling off four, two-strike pitches before ripping an RBI double down the left field line.
- Friday's pitching match-up might best be described as "intriguing." It pits former Major Leaguer Brandon Morrow against the RockHounds' Joel Seddon, making just his third appearance (second start) above the Single-A level. Morrow, originally selected by Seattle with the fifth overall pick of the 2006 draft, has nine seasons of big league experience (44-43, 4.22 ERA in 236 games). He has pitched for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego, but has been limited to just 28 games in The Show over the last three seasons (including five appearances last season with the Padres) due to injury. Morrow re-signed with the Padres as a minor league free agent in December and has now been assigned to the (Double-A) Missions (not a rehab assignment). Seddon has struggled in two "tandem starts" (shared with Sam Bragg), posting a 17.55 ERA. The 'Hounds have abandoned the "piggy-back" system, with Seddon assuming the rotation spot and Bragg moving to the bullpen. Bragg pitched two scoreless innings in relief Thursday, walking one and striking out four (he struck out the side in the eighth).
- Radio note: Apologies for our unintentional radio "blackout" on Thursday, caused by a line failure at the stadium in San Antonio.
Images from this story
 Ryon Healy, Matt Chapman and Viosergy Rosa of the Midland RockHounds (Alan Jamison & Mark Wagner) |
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Texas League Stories from April 22, 2016
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- Burg, Beck Bolster 'Riders - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Edge Cardinals in Narrow 3-1 Win - Springfield Cardinals
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- Naturals Claim 5th Straight Victory at Home - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 at Corpus Christi Hooks - April 22, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Riders Holding Fan Vote for Star Trek-Inspired Jerseys - Frisco RoughRiders
- RockHounds Are All Heart (Of the Order) - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Take Opener in Arkansas - Springfield Cardinals
- RockHounds Crush Missions 9-2 - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Unable to Overcome Big Third Inning - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs Bats Stay Hot in 9-4 Series Opening Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Sadzeck, Cordell Lead RoughRiders - Corpus Christi Hooks
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