Bats Erupt in Win over Amarillo
Published on August 19, 2019 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Soccer has something called the "aggregate," in which the team that scores more goals than its opponent in multiple games is the winner. The RockHounds can only wish the Texas League used that system.
The RockHounds and Amarillo have played seven time in the last 11 days. With a 16-3 win over the Sod Poodles Thursday night, the 'Hounds outscored Amarillo by six runs in those seven games ... and went 1-6 (Amarillo's six wins came by a total of seven runs).
The RockHounds built an 8-3 lead and doubled their score with an eight-run eighth inning, highlighted by Greg Deichmann's three-run home run and Mike Whitey's grand slam.
The 'Hounds hit for the Home Run Cycle in the game beginning with Taylor Motter's solo drive in the second, a two-run shot from Tyler Ramirez in the fifth and capped by Deichmann and White in the eighth.
White had a 5-RBI night, with Deichmann, Ramirez and Edwin Diaz each driving in three.
Notable
The Corpus Christi Hooks completed a four-game sweep of Frisco with a 2-1 win at "the beach." Amarillo continues to hold a commanding lead in the second half race, putting the wild card playoff spot in play. That race is incredibly tight - - the RockHounds and Corpus are tied at 60-62 with Frisco 1½ games back at 58-63 (they will make up the half-game in the last series of the season, at NW Arkansas).
The pitching, while "lost" in the onslaught, was very solid as well. James Kaprielian allowed one run on one hit (a "Hodgetown" home run from Hudson Potts ) over four innings, with Daulton Jefferies (two runs on two hits with six strikeouts) getting win, Norge Ruiz pitched a scoreless eighth, backed by a brilliant defensive play from center fielder Mickey McDonald, and Wandisson Charles closed the game in the ninth, hitting 101 miles-per-hour on the gun.
The "Carl Spackler Theory" on the Travel Day from Heck
The departure of San Antonio (and subsequent addition of Amarillo) has added a "trip from heck" that every team must make over the course of the season: Amarillo to Corpus Christi and play that night. Thursday/Friday marks the RockHounds' turn to make the journey.
The club departs Amarillo after Thursday's game ... makes the cross-state trek (and it's a big ol' state) ... gets to the hotel in Corpus somewhere around 10 am ... and take on the Hooks at 7:15 Friday evening. Tough trip, but just the nature of the game.
The 'Hounds, however, get a "nice little bonus." Corpus Christi's starter Friday is Forrest Whitely, the Houston Astros' # 2 prospect and the # 17 prospect in all of Minor League Baseball, according to MLB.com.
Amarillo to Corpus to face Forrest Whitely. Perhaps Carl Spackler put it best when he said, in Caddyshack, "... so I get that goin' for me, which is nice."
Next Game
Friday, August 16 vs. Corpus Christi Hooks
Whataburger Field Corpus Christi, Texas
First pitch 7:15 p.m.
- First of a three-game series and fifth of a seven-game road trip
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 7:05 p.m.
Probable Starters
CC: Forrest Whitely (RH, 0-1. 4.70)
RH: James Naile (RH, 6-7, 5.95)
Next at Security Bank Ballpark
The RockHounds final homestand of the 2019 regular season opened next Tuesday!
August 20-22 vs. Springfield Cardinals
August 23-25 vs. NW Arkansas Naturals
Texas League Stories from August 19, 2019
- Limited All-You-Can-Eat Seats for Saturday's Game - Tulsa Drillers
- Logan Gilbert Honored by Texas League - Arkansas Travelers
- RockHounds Rally for Series Win - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Plate Late Run to Beat Hounds - Midland RockHounds
- State Fair Night Returns as Part of Huge Final Homestand - Frisco RoughRiders
- Diaz Knocks in Seven in RockHounds Win over Hooks - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Open Final Regular Season Homestand Tuesday - Tulsa Drillers
- Bats Erupt in Win over Amarillo - Midland RockHounds
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