Climbing Jaycob's Ladder
April 27, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
When the RockHounds took the diamond to start the week (last Monday in Little Rock, Arkansas), outfielder Jaycob Brugman was 2-for-25 for the season. A 3-for-6 double-header got both Brugman and the RockHounds going. Beginning with a 3-0 win in the nightcap of the Monday double-dip, the 'Hounds won five of their next six games, and Jaycob finished went 14-for-28. He started the week batting .080 and finished it a .300 hitter (.302). Oh, by the way, the former BYU star went 3-for-6 Sunday afternoon and scored the game-winning run on Chad Pinder's walk-off line drive in a 3-2, 12-inning win over San Antonio at Security Bank Ballpark. That's a good week.
San Antonio took a 1-0 lead in the first, sending eight batters to the plate and forcing 'Hounds starter Chris Jensen (very uncharacteristically) to throw 35 pitches. For the next 11 innings, Jensen and relievers Seth Frankoff, Bobby Wahl and Ryan Dull pitched scoreless baseball, with Jensen pitching into the sixth despite the long first inning.
Sacrifice flies from Carson Blair (in the third) and Bruce Maxwell (in the fourth) tied the game at 2-2, and pitching and defense (along with strong winds gusting to more than 30 mph) dominated most of the next eight innings. Both clubs, however, did have scoring chances. The Missions loaded the bases in the 10th, but Wahl struck Hunter Renfroe out looking and ended the inning with a fly ball out to right.
Brugman led off the 12th with a single to center, and was running on a 3-1 pitch to Matt Olson, who sent a line drive single to center, putting runners at the corners. One out later, Pinder ripped a line drive over the head of San Antonio center fielder Travis Jankowski, giving the RockHounds a win in their first extra-innings contest of the season and a 3-games-to-1 series won over the Missions.
Kibbles & Bits
- Jaycob Brugman and Carson Blair led a 13-hit attack, each with three hits (Blair drove in the 'Hounds' first run and Brugman scored the game-winner) with Chad Pinder and Wade Kirkland adding two hits apiece. Kirkland scored the 'Hounds' first run one run and Pinder scored the tying run in the fourth and drove in the game-winner with his 12th-inning walk-off.
- Ryan Dull earned the win Sunday, pitching the 11th and 12th and extending his scoreless streak to 10.1 innings to open the year. The right-hander has allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out 12 batters.
- Seth Frankoff faced and retired seven batters, dropping his ERA to 1.00 six appearances. In 9.0 innings, Seth has allowed six hits and one run, walking one and striking out 12. He earned his first save of the year on Friday, his 16th in 17 career opportunities with the RockHounds.
- Division-leading Corpus Christi now comes to town for a four-game set opening Monday (6:30 p.m.). The Hooks own the Texas League's best record (12-4) and are outscoring their opposition by a remarkable four runs per game. Note: The Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, utilize a "piggy-back" pitching system for many of their games, designating two "starters" (one to follow the other) by design. That's the reason for more than one "starter" being listed in the series rotations (below).
- The series opens Monday evening at 6:30 and includes the first of two Safety Awareness Days (Kids' Days) of the season, Tuesday morning (April 28) at 11:00 a.m. The home stand then concludes Wednesday (6:30) and Thursday (7:00) evenings.
Probable Pitchers for Corpus Christi Series
Monday at 6:30 p.m. - Corpus Christi RHP Aaron West (0-1, 0.93) / LHP Kent Emanuel (1-0, 3.09) vs RockHounds RHP Nate Long (0-0, 0.00)
Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. - Corpus Christi RHP Kyle Westwood (1-0, 1.38) vs RockHounds RHP Jonathan Joseph (0-0, 0.00)
Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. - Corpus Christi RHP Mark Appel (2-0, 1.93) vs RockHounds RHP Jake Sanchez (1-2, 5.51)
Thursday at 7:00 p.m. - Corpus Christi LHP Josh Hader (0-1, 5.40) / RHP Chris Devenski (2-0, 0.00) vs RockHounds LHP Chris Lamb (0-3, 19.00)
Texas League Stories from April 27, 2015
- Eight Game Home Stand Begins April 27 - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Survive Late Rally to Take Series Opener - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Devenski & Correa Claim Weekly Honors - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals to Observe National Law Enforcement Week During May 7 Game - Springfield Cardinals
- Climbing Jaycob's Ladder - Midland RockHounds
- Blood Donors Score Naturals Tickets: May 1 - May 15 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homestand Highlights: April 27 - May 4 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Devenski's Gem Sweetens DH Sweep - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hooks Take Four in Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
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