The Beast & the Beauty
August 11, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Tuesday night's series opener was a "beast," one in which the RockHounds watched (and helped) as a 6-1 lead evaporated. Tulsa scored three times in the eighth inning (on one hit) to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings, with the 'Hounds going on to claim a 7-6 win in the 10th.
By contrast, Wednesday's middle game of the three-game set at ONEOK Field was a "beauty," with Matt Chapman providing all the offense (three runs) with his second two-home run game in four days and Joel Seddon and a trio of relievers limiting the Drillers to one run on five hits.
Chapman hit his league-leading 27th and 28th home runs of the season - - - the first a solo line drive to left field in the fourth inning and the second a high, two-run drive into the same left field seats in the sixth (also see "Stat of the Day #1," below).
Seddon (see "Stat of the Day #2," below) allowed one hit and one walk over five innings, striking out three for his eighth win of the season and his fifth in his last five starts. He was backed by Lou Trivino (hold, two innings, one hit one strikeout), Trey Cochran-Gill (hold, one run in one inning, just the third he has allowed in his last 19 outings) and Kyle Finnegan, who earned his fourth save in six opportunities (one inning, one walk, one strikeout).
The eighth inning, again, saw Tulsa rally, with the Drillers scoring their only run on three singles and a bases-loaded hit by pitch, but Alex Verdugo grounded out to second base (and into a defensive shift) with the bases full to end the threat.
The RockHounds
... are 31-15 in the second half and 64-52 overall ... are an (overall) season high 12 games over .500 ... have won two in a row and 11 of their last 15 games ... are 33-25 at Security Bank Ballpark and 31-27 on the road ... are 3-5 in the season series with the Tulsa Drillers (0-3 at Security Bank Ballpark and 3-2 at ONEOK Field) ... are 23-15 vs. the North Division.
... maintained their lead across the board in the Texas League South Division as all four clubs defeated their cross-division foes on Wednesday. San Antonio (24-22) won its fifth straight (2-1 over Arkansas) to remain seven games back. In four of their five wins, the Missions have allowed a total of one run (three shutouts). Corpus Christi (22-24) trails by nine, with Frisco (18-28) 13 back with 24 games remaining.
... continue their six-game road trip with the final game of a three-game series at ONEOK Field in Tulsa taking on the Drillers at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday. The 'Hounds then travel to Springfield, Missouri, to meet the Cardinals in a three-game weekend set (Friday, 7:10 p.m. ... Saturday, 6:10 p.m. and Sunday at 2:10 p.m.). The 'Hounds will host Tulsa (August 16-18) and Springfield (August 19-21) next week at Security Bank Ballpark.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT of the DAY # 1: Matt Chapman's multi-HR game was his fourth of the season and the second in his last four games. In his last five games, Chapman is 8-for-19 (.421) with four home runs and 11 RBI and is hitting .368 (21-for-57) with six HR, 19 RBI and a .457 on-base percentage in his last 16 games.
STAT of the DAY # 2: With Wednesday's win, Joel Seddon is now 8-8 with a 4.75 ERA for the season. In one of our "favorite redundant" stats, Seddon allowed 23 hits in his first 9.2 innings (17.69 ERA). Since then, he is 8-6 with a 3.93 ERA in his last 20 starts and 7-2 with a 1.75 ERA in his last nine.
- Beau Taylor is 6-for-9 in the Tulsa series and is now 9-for-17 (.529) in a four-game hit streak with four runs, two doubles and two RBI. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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Texas League Stories from August 11, 2016
- Late Homer Sends Drillers to 5th Straight Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- Sulbaran Guides Cardinals to 5-1 Win and Series Victory - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Claim Series - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Defense Costs Missions Chance at Sweep - San Antonio Missions
- Ibanez Provides Early Spark, But Cards Quiet Riders in Finale - Frisco RoughRiders
- O'Grady Tosses Career-High 7.2 IP in Shutout - Arkansas Travelers
- San Antonio's Bid for Sweep Denied as Defensive - San Antonio Missions
- John Fasola Named Rangers Minor League Reliever of the Month - Frisco RoughRiders
- The Beast & the Beauty - Midland RockHounds
- Hyde, Garcia Pace Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- RoughRiders Even the Series on Wednesday - Springfield Cardinals
- Quintana the Latest Walk-Off Hero for Missions - San Antonio Missions
- Quintana and San Antonio Walk off Arkansas - San Antonio Missions
- Hooks Sink Naturals, 5-4 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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