A Dazzling Debut at Position # 4
Published on May 1, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
When the third out was recorded in the top of the eighth inning on Saturday night, RockHounds shortstop Yairo Munoz applauded the defensive effort, pounding his right hand into his fielder's glove ... repeatedly. One inning later, a Security Bank Ballpark crowd of more than 5,500 was doing the same, going crazy on three consecutive defensive efforts. The player making all four plays was Franklin Barreto, who, for all intents and purposes (see below), was playing second base for the first time in his professional career.
With the RockHounds leading by one run, 4-3, in the top of the eighth, a strong wind had developed after a near perfect evening to that point. On a wind-blown pop up to shallow center field, Barreto made a tremendous running catch to end the inning (and earn the Munoz "ovation").
In the ninth, Nick Schulz, who had homered earlier, led off with a shot back up the middle. Pitcher Aaron Kurcz deflected the ball slightly and Barreto got to it near the edge of the outfield grass to the right of second base, throwing from his knees to get Schulz at first. The next batter, Ryan Miller, sent a sharp one-hopper toward the hole on the right side. Barreto, this time ranging well to his left, made another tremendous grab, with his spinning throw narrowly beating Miller to the bag. Taylor Lindsey, who was 4-for-4 to that point in the game, grounded to the right side and into a RockHounds' shift. Appropriately, it was Barreto, making his fourth consecutive play, who retired Taylor to end the game.
Ryon Healy, again, powered the RockHounds, going 2-for-4 with a RBI double in the first and a solo home run (which would be the decisive run of the game) in the fifth. Healy now leads the Texas League in runs batted in with 24 and is third in the batting race at .348.
The win was the sixth straight for the 'Hounds, while San Antonio dropped its sixth in a row The Missions are 0-6 on their eight-game road trip (four at Frisco and four at Security Bank Ballpark) with four of the six defeats coming in one-run decisions.
Texas League Stories from May 1, 2016
- Darvish Dazzles, But Riders Fall - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cards and Travs Split Sunday Twin Bill - Springfield Cardinals
- Oh Well, There Goes Our Perfect Week - Midland RockHounds
- RoughRiders Welcome Fourth-Largest Crowd in Franchise History Sunday - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Battle But Fall to the Naturals 7-5 - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Win Third Straight as Strahm Picks up First Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 4:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - May 1, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Riders Take Another - Corpus Christi Hooks
- A Dazzling Debut at Position # 4 - Midland RockHounds
- Barrage of Naturals Homers Too Much for Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs Win on Sherman Johnson's 5-5 Night - Arkansas Travelers
- Riders Stage Another Dramatic Comeback against Hooks - Frisco RoughRiders
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