Attack of the Beach Balls
August 7, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Chad Pinder of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
The RockHounds scored a dozen runs and pounded out 17 hits Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Corpus Christi, defeating the Hooks, 12-5. The win pushes the 'Hounds four games ahead of the first half champions in the Texas League South second half race.
Chad Pinder started ... and finished ... the RockHounds' scoring with a two-run home run in the first and a three-run double in the ninth. With his 3-for-5 night (plus a walk), Chad has now hit in 10 straight games and in 28 of his last 29 games (see below). he home run was his fourth in three games and the five RBI bring his season total to 73 (10 more than any other Texas League hitter).
Jon Kemmer answered Pinder's two-run shot with a three-run homer in the home half of the first inning and Jack Mayfield's solo drive in the fourth gave Corpus Christi a 4-2 lead.
Wade Kirkland and Jaycob Brugman then ignited a pair of rallies as the 'Hounds took the lead. Kirkland, Brugman and Colin Walsh had consecutive singles leading off the fifth, with Walsh's hit and a wild pitch tying the game at 4-4, and Matt Olson's infield single giving the 'Hounds a 5-4 advantage. Kirkland doubled with one out in the sixth and Brugman followed with an RBI single to make the score 6-4.
Neither club scored again until the ninth, with the RockHounds blowing the game open with a six-run rally. Josh Whitaker had a two-run double, Kirkland's third hit of the game drove in a run and Pinder cleared the bases with an 0-2 double to right-center.
The RockHounds
... are 27-14 in the second half and 62-49 overall (a new season high at 13 games over .500) ... have won 10 of their last 13 ... are 10-15 in the season series with the Hooks (5-7 at home and 5-8 at Whataburger Field) ... are 36-21 at Security Bank Ballpark and 26-28 on the road ... are 43-32 vs. the South Division and 19-17 vs. the North ... have 29 games remaining in the Texas League regular season.
- Texas League South: The RockHounds' lead Corpus Christi (23-18) by four games in the Texas League South second half race. Frisco rallied twice (at home) to defeat San Antonio, leaving the RoughRiders (19-21) 7.5 games back and San Antonio (16-25) trailing by 11.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY: The RockHounds had only three assists on 27 outs Thursday night, but one was costly. Reaching for a throw from shortstop in the fifth, first baseman Renato Nuñez did "the splits," and was slow to get up. He stayed in the game through one more at bat before leaving in the last of the sixth.
- Chad Pinder has hit in 10 straight games, his second double-digit streak ... with one game in-between. In the 10-gamer, the 'Hounds shortstop is hitting .395 (17-for-43) with four home runs and 13 RBI. Including his previous streak of 18 games (tied for the league's longest in 2015), Pinder has hit in 28 of 29 games (48-for-125, .384). His season average of .324 is second overall and leads all active Texas League hitters.
- Ryon Healy has a seven-game hit streak (13-for-27, 4.09) with two home runs and nine RBI and is hitting .407 (37-for-91) in his last 24 games.
- Catcher Beau Taylor has joined the RockHounds from (Advanced-A) Stockton. With the Ports, Taylor was hitting .214 in 68 games with four home runs and 28 RBI. Taylor has been with the RockHounds for parts of the last two seasons and was a member of the 2014 Texas League championship club. Anthony Aliotti has been assigned to the RockHounds from (AAA) Nashville and is scheduled to join the club Friday.
Images from this story
 Chad Pinder of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from August 7, 2015
- Kemmer Caps Wild Finish - Corpus Christi Hooks
- O'Neill and Cardinals Walk off against Travs, 2-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Beat Naturals for Fourth Straight Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Hancock Stifles Riders Offense in 5-1 Loss - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Drop Game Two, 4-1 in Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Derek Holland to Rehab with RoughRiders on Sunday - Frisco RoughRiders
- Attack of the Beach Balls - Midland RockHounds
- Jensen, Pinder Push Hounds - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals Out-Slug Travelers, 10-8 - Springfield Cardinals
- Cards Come Back Twice in Seesaw Slugfest - Arkansas Travelers
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