Bats Erupt for 15 Runs, Hounds Beat Frisco
Published on July 1, 2019 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Mother Nature delayed the start (46 minutes due to rain), but the RockHounds picked up where they left off Friday, building a 9-0 lead after three innings and cruising to a 15-2 win over the RoughRiders Saturday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
In the second and third innings, combined, the 'Hounds sent 19 batters to the plate, scoring five in the second inning and four more in the third. Brallan Perez lined an RBI double off the left field wall to open the scoring in the second, with Dairon Blanco driving in a pair and Tyler Ramirez the fourth run of the inning on back-to-back singles. Blanco and Ramirez then pulled a double-steal and, when Yoel Espinal's pitch went to the backstop, Blanco (whose thievery of third base was his 21st steal of the season) scored on the play.
The first five runs came off Frisco starter Tyler Phillips but the RoughRiders bullpen struggled mightily for the second straight night (see below). Espinal allowed four runs on two hits, three walks and one hit batsman in a total of one inning's work before Blake Bass (one run in 2?), Matt Bush, and Emmanuel Clase (each with a 1-2-3 inning) stemmed the tide.
With the bullpen overtasked, infielder Ryan Dorow did mop-up duty for the second consecutive game, entering in the eighth on Saturday. After retiring the side in order in the ninth on Friday, he gave up five runs in the eighth inning Saturday on five hits, including a two-run home run from Collin Theroux and a three-run shot off the bat of Edwin Diaz (both players homered for the second straight game). Dorow then pitched a scoreless ninth, giving him three innings of work in two games.
The win was the RockHounds' third in-a-row in the series (with Sunday's finale remaining).
Texas League South
Amarillo made it two-in-a-row with an 8-6 win over Corpus Christi (at Amarillo) in the other TL South Division contest.
The RockHounds are 6-3 ... the Hooks are 4-5 ... the Sod Poodles are 3-6 ... and the RoughRiders are 2-6 in the second half pennant race.
The league has just begun the first stretch of divisional play in the second half ... 18 games in all ... June 27-July 14.
The Series
The clubs scored a combined total of five runs in the first 15 innings of the series (the RockHounds won game one by a score of 1-0 and game two was tied, 2-2, after six innings). They have scored 26 runs in 12 innings since.
In the last 12 innings, the RockHounds have outscored Frisco, 23-3.
Stat of the Day
In the first three innings, the RockHounds sent 24 batters to plate. When 'Hounds starter Matt Milburn threw the first pitch of the last of the third, he was facing his seventh batter ... one hour, 17 minutes into the game.
Notable
In his first 10 starts, Matt Milburn went 2-4, with a 5.40 ERA ... a 1.49 WHIP ... 18 walks and 30 strikeouts.
In his last four starts, Matt is 3-0, with a 1.63 ERA ... a 1.16 WHIP ... four walks and 17 K's.
He has allowed 0 or 1 earned run(s) in three of his last four starts.
Metroplex Bullpen Woes
In games two and three (Friday and Saturday), the Frisco bullpen has pitched a combined 9 ? innings. They have allowed 16 runs on 12 hits and 11 walks, a 14.90 ERA. The Riders 'pen as struck out seven ... hit one batsman ... thrown four wild pitches ... and allowed 4-of-7 inherited runners to score.
Next Game
Sunday, June 30 vs. Frisco RoughRiders
Dr Pepper Ballpark Frisco, Texas
First pitch 6:05 p.m.
- Final of a four-game series and road trip
- RockHounds Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:00 p.m.
Probable Starters
FRI: Brock Burke (LH, 0-2, 3.86)
RH: James Naile (RH, 5-4, 5.95)
Next at Security Bank Ballpark
The RockHounds are home for a quick, but terrific, three-game homestand July 1-2-3
Postgame fireworks July 2nd & 3rd!
Texas League Stories from July 1, 2019
- Drillers Edge Cardinals Late, 6-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Bailey & Collado Corral Riders - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders Strike out 14 in 3-1 Loss - Frisco RoughRiders
- Landon and McKinstry Homer in Drillers Victory over Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Drop Series Opener to Travelers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- McCaughan Stifles Naturals in Series Opening Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Soddies Fall on Quiet Night for Bats - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Rondon Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Springfield Cardinals
- Celebrate July Fourth Weekend with Fireworks, Giveaways - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travelers Series Highlights & 4th at the Field on Thursday, July 4th - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Celebrate July Fourth Weekend with Fireworks, Giveaways - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hunter Pence Scheduled to Rehab with Riders Tonight - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hounds Win Fourth Straight, Sweep Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- Bats Erupt for 15 Runs, Hounds Beat Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- Rondon Strikes out 10 as Cardinals Top Naturals, 3-1 - Springfield Cardinals
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