Behind Every Dark Cloud ...
Published on September 9, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
... there is a silver lining. Cliche'? Yep. True? For the RockHounds Wednesday night, absolutely.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has been pounded by Tropical Storm Hermine ... three tornadoes were reported in the DFW area Wednesday ... and the odds of the RockHounds and RoughRiders even taking the diamond in Frisco were long.
Not only did the teams play, they went extra innings, with the RockHounds opening defense of the Texas League championship with a 4-3 win over the RoughRiders in 10 innings.
Jermaine Mitchell's line in the box score says 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, but the 'Hounds left-fielder also walked twice and used his explosive speed to score twice. Jermaine scored the game's first run after drawing a key walk with two out (and an 0-2 count) in the 3rd inning, scoring from second on Alex Valdez' single to shallow right field.
Val Majewski doubled leading off the 4th and Josh Horton brought him in with a single, increasing the lead to 2-0. Mitchell scored again after drawing his second walk, and his speed was the key. Jermaine scored from first on Archie Gilbert's "hustle double" to the gap in right-center in the 5th inning.
RockHounds pitching had only one real miscue, but it didn't come on a pitch. Mickey Storey's throwing error opened the door to a game-tying, 3-run Frisco 7th inning, with just one of the three runs being earned.
The clubs went to extra innings tied at 3-3 after Daniel Sattler escaped a 2-out jam in the last of the 9th with the winning run in scoring position. He walked Marcus Lemon and Guilder Rodriguez sent a slow roller through between third and short to put the inning run at second base. "Satt" then got all-star second baseman Renny Osuna to ground out to shortstop Josh Horton, sending the game to extra innings.
Shane Peterson opened the 10th with a single to left, and Lemon (who otherwise had a brilliant game) bobbled the ball, with "Pete" coming to second. With one out, Archie Gilbert was hit by a pitch, putting runners at the corners. Val Majewski then delivered his third hit of the game, an RBI single to right-center, scoring Peterson.
A walk to Horton loaded the bases, but the 'Hounds couldn't add to the lead. Matt Sulentic and Frisco reliever Tyler Tufts had a major battle with the bases full. With the count 2-0, Sulentic took a pair of big swings but came up empty, evening the count at 2-2. Tufts would strike Sulentic out, but the "K" came on the 10th, 2-2 pitch of the at bat, after the RockHounds DH fouled off nine 2-strike deliveries.
RockHounds pitchers allowed 11 hits in 10 innings, but walked just three and allowed only one earned run. Graham Godfrey went 5.0 shutout innings to open the game, and four relievers combined to pitch the last 6.0 with Daniel Sattler went 2.0 scoreless innings (the 8th and 9th) for the win and Neil Wagner slammed the door in the 10th with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the side.
Weather remains an issue, although Thursday's forecast is much more encouraging than Wednesday, when the chance of rain was (accurately) listed at "100%." The clubs are scheduled to play game 2 at Frisco Thursday before the series moves to Citibank Ballpark for games 3, 4 and 5 as needed this weekend.
Texas League Stories from September 9, 2010
- Cardinals Overtake Naturals in Twelve Innings - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Springfield Takes Game One from Naturals in 12 Innings - Springfield Cardinals
- RockHounds Fall In Game Two To Frisco; Series Moves To Citibank Ballpark - Midland RockHounds
- Travs And Angels Extend Affiliation Through 2012 - Arkansas Travelers
- Five Naturals to Play for Team USA - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Moustakas Named Sporting News Minor League Hitter of the Year - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Behind Every Dark Cloud ... - Midland RockHounds
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