Curse of the Clock
April 12, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Play at the Plate
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
RockHounds catcher Bruce Maxwell gets ready to apply a tag at home plate Northwest Arkansas center fielder Lane Adams in the fourth inning of a 8-3 loss to the Naturals on Saturday night at Security Bank Ballpark. (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
The RockHounds were doing just fine without the 20-second "improve the pace of the game" clocks instituted this season by Major League Baseball for the Triple-A and Double-A levels. The clock made its "debut" at Security Bank Ballpark Saturday, and the 'Hounds suffered their first defeat of the season. There is no connection whatsoever, of course, but the clocks make a convenient scapegoat.
More than any timing device, Northwest Arkansas' 6-7-8 hitters were the game's biggest factor. Mike Bianucci, Balbino Fuenmayor and (former RockHound) Dusty Coleman went a combined 9-for-13 (plus a hit by pitch) to lead a 14-hit attack. The trio scored six of the Naturals' eight runs and drove in two more (both RBI from Coleman).
With the RockHounds leading, 1-0, in the second, Hunter Dozier led off with a single to left. Bianucci, Fuenmayor and Coleman followed with consecutive singles, the last of them (off Coleman's bat) tying the game. The Naturals broke the 1-1 tie, scoring one run on a double play, and Lane Adams' RBI single capped a three-run rally that gave Northwest Arkansas a lead it would not relinquish.
Naturals starter Jonathan Dziedzic left the game with a 5-1 lead, but fell one out short of completing the necessary five innings to be eligible for the win. The 'Hounds drew within 5-3, rallying against reliever Aroni Nina, who gave up two runs in the sixth on four walks and an error.
The Naturals then responded with a three-run seventh, again fueled by consecutive hits from Bianucci (double), Fuenmayor and Coleman, to put the game out of reach.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Play at the Plate (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from April 12, 2015
- Mother Nature 3, Arkansas 2, RockHounds 1 - Midland RockHounds
- Sunday Sunday: Riders Get First Win of 2015 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Ohlman and Cardinals Slam San Antonio, 4-2 - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Fall in Series Opener at Frisco - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Win No. 4: a Sunday Shutout - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Blanked by Hooks 4-0 - Tulsa Drillers
- Curse of the Clock - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Complete Season Opening Sweep in Frisco - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Run Table in Ozarks - Corpus Christi Hooks
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.
