TL1 Midland RockHounds

Brains & Brawn

Published on June 3, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


Renato Nuñez picked the perfect time to extend his on-base streak, and Matt Angle picked the perfect base to throw to, as the RockHounds defeated the Tulsa Drillers, 5-3, in 11 innings Wednesday afternoon at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.

Nuñez snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run home run in the top of the 11th, extending his on-base streak to 18 games (he was 0-for-4 before the game-winning swing). Nunez's home run, his fourth (all on the road), was an impressive shot that carried out far beyond the left field wall. It followed a leadoff double by Matt Olson and Chad Pinder's sacrifice bunt.

The Drillers rallied right back in the home half of the inning, putting runners at second and third on a Brandon Dixon double, a walk to Shawn Zarraga and Daniel Mayora's sacrifice bunt. Jeremy Rathjen then lifted a fly ball to left, with both Dixon (at third) and Zarraga (at second) tagging. As Dixon broke for home, Zarraga broke off second, then held up. Angle, who might have had a chance to get Dixon at the plate, instead threw behind Zarraga, and the "heady" throw was in time for a game-ending double play.

The game never would have seen its extra-inning dramatics had it not been for Pinder, who homered to right off reliever Jeremy Horst with one out in the ninth to tie the game at 3-3 (see "Stat of the Day," below).

The RockHounds

... are now 28-24 for the season ... have reached four games over .500 for the first time in 2015 ... are 4-1 in extra innings ... have won 6-of-8 (corrected) ... are 2-0 to open the current six-game road trip ... are 10-14 on the road and 18-10 at Security Bank Ballpark ... are 17-15 in South Division play and 11-9 versus the North Division ... are 5-0 versus the Tulsa Drillers ... trail Corpus Christi (34-16) by seven games pending the Hooks' home game tonight in the TL South ... have 18 games remaining to play in the half (Corpus has 19).

Kibbles & Bits

STAT of the DAY: The RockHounds have hit three, dramatic, late-inning home runs in the first two games of the series. Josh Whitaker broke a 5-5 tie with a game-winning drive in the ninth Tuesday night ... Chad Pinder tied Wednesday's game with a home run in the ninth (his seventh, tying Matt Olson for the team lead) ... and Renato Nuñez's game-winner in extras Wednesday.

- Josh Whitaker (1-for-5) has hit in 11 straight games, batting .447 (21-47) and has reached base in 18-of-20 games (30-82, .366).

- Matt Angle (2-for-4, stolen base, caught stealing) has hit in 10 straight games dating back to May 7 (due to time missed with a left groin strain) and has reached base in 11 consecutive games. In the 10-game hit streak, the former Baltimore Oriole is hitting .364 (12-33). Since going 2-for-35 in his first nine games (after his reassignment from Triple-A Nashville), Matt is also hitting .364 (20-55) in his last 18 games.

- Matt Olson (2-for-5, two doubles, two runs) has reached base in 10 straight games (10-33, .303).

- Colin Walsh (1-for-4, double, run, walk) is 12-for-his-last-28 (.429) and has reached base in 27-of-28 games (.299 with a .432 OBP).

- Chad Pinder (2-for-4, solo home run, sac bunt) is hitting .352 in his last 16 games and .330 in his last 24 games.

- Renato Nuñez (1-for-5, GW two-run HR) extended his on-base streak to 18 games (15-70, .214).

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from June 3, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central