'27 Yankees Invade the Texas League
Published on July 28, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Matt Olson of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
Matt Olson hit two of the RockHounds' four homers and recorded a season-high five RBI, as the 'Hounds extended their lead in the South Division to 2.5 games with a 12-9 win over the Frisco RoughRiders on Monday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
In the opener of a three-game series between the leaders in the Texas League South, the RockHounds and Frisco RoughRiders exchanged solo home runs in the first inning ... and the 'Hounds did their best '27 Yankees impersonation, with Matt Olson playing the role of the "Bambino."
Colin Walsh extended his hit streak to 15 games with a first-inning solo home run (see below) and Frisco's Ryan Cordell answered in the home half of the inning. Olson broke the 1-1 tie with a two-run homer in the fourth, his second in as many nights, but the RoughRiders answered again, this time on Zach Cone's RBI double in the last of the fourth, to draw to within 3-2. Olson then hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning (see "Stat of the Day," below) to give the 'Hounds a 6-2 lead, only to see Cone make it a 6-5 game with a three-run double in the Frisco sixth.
Rangel Ravelo hit the RockHounds' fourth (and final) home run of the game, a two-run drive to left in the seventh and the club added four more in the eighth on RBI from Ryan Healy, Bruce Maxwell, Chad Oberacker and Walsh.
Frisco rallied one last time, scoring four times in the ninth against Omar Duran. The 'Hounds had to turn to closer Ryan Dull, who entered with the score 12-7, the bases loaded and one out. While allowing two of the inherited runners to score (on an RBI single by Drew Robinson), Dull recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the game (his 12th save), extending the RockHounds' lead to two-and-a-half games in the South Division.
The RockHounds
... are 20-11 in the second half and 55-46 overall (a new high-water mark for the season at nine games over .500) ... have won three-in-a-row and 6-of-their-last-8 ... are 11-6 in the season series with the RoughRiders (7-1 at home and 4-5 at Dr Pepper Ballpark) ... are 32-18 at Security Bank Ballpark and 23-28 on the road ... are 36-29 vs. the South Division and 19-17 vs. the North.
- Texas League South: The RockHounds' lead over Frisco (17-13) is now at a two-and-a-half games with two games remaining in the series in the Metroplex. San Antonio was a 13-7 winner at Corpus Christi, so the Hooks (16-15) drop four games behind the 'Hounds, while San Antonio (12-19) remains eight games back.
- The RockHounds & Frisco: Including the current series, the clubs have four series remaining in the 2015 season, each a three-game set. The teams meet next Monday-Wednesday (July 30-August 1) at Security Bank Ballpark and again in six of the last 10 days of the season.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY: The Texas League might want to take note of this edition of Kibbles & Bits, and the following, relating to Matt Olson.
- In April, Matt hit six home runs, the last on April
- Next three home runs came (virtually) a month apart - - May 28, June 20 and July 23
- Beginning with the July 23 homer run, Matt now has four homers in five games ... and three in the last two nights
- Colin Walsh (2-for-4, solo HR, two RBI, walk, two runs) extended his hit streak to 15 games (25-for-57, .439) and has reached base in 16 straight.
- Rangel Ravelo (2-for-4, 2-run HR, walk, three runs) has hit in four straight games (8-for-17) and has hits in 8-of-his-last-9 games (14-for-35, .400) with one home run and nine RBI. Rangel has reached base in 14-of-his-15 games as a member of the 'Hounds and is hitting .357.
Images from this story
 Matt Olson of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
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