Bats Erupt in Win over Frisco
September 2, 2018 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
In 47 seasons of professional baseball in West Texas, the Cubs, Angels and RockHounds have had some very impressive nights "at the dish." Not many could have topped Saturday night's performance at Security Bank Ballpark, in which the RockHounds defeated the Frisco RoughRiders, 14-5.
The 'Hounds pounded out 23 hits (the 2018 Texas League high for non-extra-inning games) ... and did it in seven innings. A rain storm hit after Frisco batted in the top of the eighth and the game was not resumed.
The win was the clubs' fifth-in-a-row (5-0 in the current home stand) and the RockHounds are now 15-4 in their last 19 games.
Among the night's highlights:
The 'Hounds scored 13 of their 14 runs in the first four innings and had a (team) season high 20 hits after the first four frames.
The top four hitters in the batting order - - Richie Martin, Tyler Ramirez, J.P. Sportman and Seth Brown - - went a combined 15-for-20, with nine runs, five doubles, one triple and nine runs batted in.
Richie Martin went 4-for-5 with three runs, a triple and an RBI
Tyler Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two runs, two double and an RBI
J.P. Sportman went 4-for-5 with three runs, a double and three RBI
Seth Brown went 4-for-5 with one run, two doubles and four RBI (See "I'm Not Tim Kurkjian," below)
Seven of nine RockHounds batters had multi-hit games.
The 'Hounds were 23-for-44 at the plate (.523) with eight doubles and two triples (a .795 slugging percentage).
Notables
Richie Martin has hit in 11-of-13 games (.426) with four doubles, three triples, three home runs, 13 runs scored and 11 RBI. He is slugging .830 over the 12 games, with six walks for a .491 OBP.
Luis Barrera has a four-game hit streak (6-16) and is hitting .355 over his last 30 games, with 21 runs scored and 15 RBI (plus 11 stolen bases in 14 attempts).
Tyler Ramirez has hit in 26-of-30 games (.350) with 20 RBI and has reached base in 32-of-36 games (.336) with 27 RBI. He ranks third in the Texas League with 79 RBI for the season.
J.P. Sportman has hit in 13-of-14 games (.328) with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI.
Brett Vertigan has hit in 9-of-11 games (.359) with five runs and six RBI.
Nate Mondou has hit in eight straight games, going 8-for-24 (.333).
Congratulations, Skye!
Skye Bolt has been named the Texas League's Player of the Month for August. The 'Hounds' outfielder hit .351 for the month with nine doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 19 RBI (a .402 on-base percentage and a .723 slugging percentage). After hitting just .133 in April, Skye was reassigned to the (Advanced-A) Stockton Ports. He was promoted back to the RockHounds on June 18 and is hitting .278 since his return, with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
I'm Not Tim Kurkjian Or Anything, Just Sayin' ...
Saturday night's offensive outburst included RBI in four straight at-bats for Seth Brown. The RockHounds first baseman now has 90 ribbies, just two behind Joey Curletta of the Arkansas Travelers (92) with two games remaining in the season.
"Browny" also added to his Texas League-leading total with two doubles. He has 38 for the season, tying for 11th in franchise history, and moving past a couple of "pretty good players" - - Oakland A's first baseman Matt Olson and former American League MVP Josh Donaldson (each with 37).
The Texas South Division was a "lumber company" Saturday night - - the RockHounds and RoughRiders combined for 19 runs on 28 hits and the San Antonio Missions and Corpus Christi Hooks combined for 20 runs on 22 hits. That's a total of 39 runs on 50 hits in two games!
Next Game
Sunday, September 2 vs. Frisco RoughRiders
Security Bank Ballpark 2:00 p.m. (Gates open at 1:30)
- Second of a three-game series and sixth of a seven-game homestand
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 1:47 p.m.
Probable Starters
FRI: Wes Benjamin (LH, 5-5, 3.72)
RH: Brian Howard (RH, 3-4, 3.82
Wrapping Up the Season! Labor Day Weekend
Sunday September 2 Family Day
(Five tickets for $ 25 ... see Sunday's MRT)
Monday September 3 Two-Dollar Monday (Labor Day)
($2 admission with a cup from any area 7-Eleven)
• Discuss this story on the Texas League message board...
Texas League Stories from September 2, 2018
- 10th Inning Sinks Travs in NWA - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Secure Final Series with Walk-Off Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks Win Half, Bukauskas Dominant in Debut - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Beat Cardinals 7-1 - Tulsa Drillers
- Raspas Even Series, But San Antonio Headed Back to Postseason - San Antonio Missions
- Benjamin Dazzles Once More But Riders Fall 2-0 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Bats Erupt in Win over Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- Cardinals Can't Battle out of Early Hole in 5-3 Loss to Drillers - Springfield Cardinals
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