Benitez allows four straight homers in loss
August 24, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK - Armando Benitez spent most of the season efforting a comeback in an Independent League.
Those efforts came slamming down with two down in the top of the eighth inning of Round Rock's 12-7 loss to Memphis (69-60) on Monday as Benitez became just the second player in Pacific Coast League history to allow four home runs in a single inning.
Benitez, who joined Round Rock (55-75) earlier in the day after making 34 appearances for Independent Newark, joined Juan Mateo as one of two PCL pitchers to allow four homers in a single frame.
The only difference? All of the shots Benitez allowed were consecutive, good for a PCL record for pitchers.
Reggie Abercrombie highlighted the Express offense, snapping out of a 7-for-44 skid against Memphis, lifting his 25th double in the first and Round Rock's second grand slam of the season in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Johnson picked up his 13th home run with a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth.
Abercrombie's 10th blast helped Round Rock take a 6-4 lead into the sixth before a funky play tilted the game for the Redbirds.
Abreu allowed one run on a pair of hits in the fifth before turning the ball over to reliever Doug Brocail.
Making his second rehab outing since joining the Express on Aug. 22, Brocail picked up one quick out before issuing a pair of singles, a wild pitch and a walk to load the bases.
That's when the funk-o-meter peaked.
Allen Craig blooped a single to left-center that scored Tyler Greene from third. Yordany Ramirez fielded the ball and fired to third in an effort to catch a streaking Nick Stavinoha, but no Express player was covering the bag.
The ball skidded past third and bouncing off the top step of the Round Rock dugout, allowing Stavinoha to score as Brocail chased after the errant throw.
With Troy Glaus now rounding third all the way from first, Brocail attempted to stop the ball with his right foot. In the chaos, Brocail flipped onto his side, allowing Glaus to score easily.
The play gave Memphis an 8-6 lead and handed Craig a three-run single, though it was reduced to a one-run single after a throwing error was charged to Ramirez.
Benitez entered for the eighth and recorded one quick out before Stavinoha blasted a shot to deep centerfield that barely stayed in the park for out No. 2.
Troy Glaus followed up with his second hit in 10 at-bats against Round Rock - a homer to left. Craig followed with a hard liner above the Home Run Porch in left and Mark Hamilton lifted the third solo shot of the inning on the first pitch he saw.
Daniel Descalso made it four straight homers - an all-time record for Express pitchers at The Dell Diamond - with a towering blast to centerfield.
Round Rock has now dropped a season-high six straight and is 3-12 against Memphis heading into Tuesday's final match-up.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 24, 2009
- Sounds pound 'Topes, 11-5 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sounds top Isotopes, 11-5 - Nashville Sounds
- Benitez allows four straight homers in loss - Round Rock Express
- Sky Sox lose third straight to Aces, 5-4 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Aces squeak past SkySox, 5-4 - Reno Aces
- Cubs get by Zephyrs, 7-1 - Iowa Cubs
- Z's lose to Iowa - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Beavers' Wade LeBlanc Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Portland Beavers
- OKC RedHawks Game Notes August 24th - Oklahoma City Comets
- Rockies Agree To Terms On Minor League Contract With Jason Giambi - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Fans at Raley Field when Cats Clinch Division Crown Eligible for Half-Price Playoff Tickets - Sacramento River Cats
- Buchanan Named PCL Player of the Week - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Pacific Coast League Players of the Week - PCL1
- Sounds Slosh Past Isotopes 6-5 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Almonte Powers Sounds To 6-5 Win - Nashville Sounds
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