The Shortest Distance Between a Win and a Loss
July 14, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
... is a bunt. Brett Vertigan's bunt single, scoring Yairo Munoz from third base in the fourth inning, was the difference in the RockHounds' 3-2, series-opening win over the San Antonio Missions Wednesday night at Nelson Wolff Stadium.
The 'Hounds built a 3-0 lead early in the game and held off a Missions rally for the win, which was their fourth straight. Tyler Marincov singled and stole second base to set the table in the second and a one-out double from Viosergy Rosa (see below) did the same in the fourth. Munoz drove in both runs with singles to center and left, respectively, in the second and fourth. After advancing to second base on a throw home in the fourth, Munoz stole third, setting up Vertigan's bunt (see "Stat of the Day," below). From that point on, the 'Hounds offense went virtually silent, garnering just two walks over the last five innings.
Starter Daniel Gossett took the 3-0 advantage into the fifth, when the Missions loaded the bases on a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk.Jose Rondon narrowly beat out a potential inning-ending, around the horn double play to produce San Antonio's first run. The Missions then got back-to-back singles (both on 0-2 counts) in the sixth, but Andres Avila came out of the bullpen to retire Luis Tejada, ending the threat.
San Antonio drew within one run on Tejada's line drive triple to center (just over Vertigan's glove) off Kyle Finnegan in the eighth, but the 'Hounds reliever got Rocky Gale to fly out to right to end the inning with the tying run 90 feet away. Bobby Wahl, hitting 99 miles per hour on the stadium's radar gun, retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out Nick Torres to end the game and earn his fourth save of the season.
The RockHounds
... are 14-5 in the second half and 47-42 overall ... have won four straight, seven of their last nine, and are 11-3 in their last 14 ... are 25-22 at Security Bank Ballpark and 22-20 on the road ... lead the season series with San Antonio, 11-10 (8-5 at Security Bank Ballpark and 3-5 at Nelson Wolff Stadium) ... won the opener of a four-game road series with the Missions ... are 26-27 versus the South Division.
... maintain a three-game lead over Corpus Christi (11-8) in the TL South after the Hooks rallied to defeat the Frisco RoughRiders, 4-2 at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi. San Antonio (8-11) drops to six games back and Frisco (6-13) now trails the 'Hounds by eight games.
... continue their four-game stay in San Antonio on Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday's Texas League games were the first in a stretch of 26 games in 26 days ... and all 26 games are divisional play. The 'Hounds meet the Missions in San Antonio on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (7:05 p.m. each evening) before returning home for a four-game series with Corpus Christi (July 17-20) at Security Bank Ballpark.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT of the DAY: Brett Vertigan's bunt single not only proved to be the game-winning RBI, it broke a nine-game hitless streak in which the RockHounds outfielder was (including Wednesday night's first at-bat) 0-for-33. Speaking of breaking out of slumps ...
- Since entering last Sunday's game 2-for-36, Viosergy Rosa has hits in nine of his last 14 at-bats (.643) with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI.
- J.P. Sportman has hits in seven of his last eight games (14-for-37, .460, with four doubles and a triple) and is hitting .320 (24-for-75) in his last 18 games.
- Bobby Wahl has not allowed a run (earned or otherwise) in his last 12 appearances, a span of 12.2 innings, dating back to June 1.
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 July 14, 2016
- Frisco Pulls Away Late - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Missions Capitalize on Mistakes to Even Series - San Antonio Missions
- Three Home Runs Power Riders in Win over Hooks - Frisco RoughRiders
- Opportunistic Missions Even Series with 'Hounds - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Battery Too Much for Cardinals in 3-0 Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- The Shortest Distance Between a Win and a Loss - Midland RockHounds
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