Deyni Olivero Pitches Sod Poodles to Series Split in Corpus
Published on June 25, 2023 under Texas League (TL)
Amarillo Sod Poodles News Release
Corpus Christi, Texas - The Sod Poodles earned a series split in the final game of the Texas League first half, beating the Hooks 6-3 on Sunday evening. Deyni Olivero earned the win, and Caleb Roberts drove in a pair of runs for the Sod Poodles.
It was two scoreless innings to start the series finale from Whataburger Field. After seeing seven runs charged to him in just 0.1 IP on Tuesday night, Olivero had a big bounce-back performance tonight. He ended his first inning of work with two strikeouts and worked around a single and a walk to leave a pair stranded in the second.
Amarillo had their first scoring chance with a two-out double in the top of the third but left their man standing on second. The Hooks struck first, hitting a one-out solo home run off Olivero in the bottom of the inning to take a one-run lead. Another two-out hit, this one paired with a walk put two men aboard for Amarillo but the Soddies were held off the scoreboard for the fourth straight inning. Amarillo finally broke through in the fifth. A leadoff triple off the bat of Roberts was brought around as Tim Tawa roped the first pitch he saw for a double into left field. A bunt moved Tawa to third and he was able to score as Ryan Bliss hit a comebacker off the Hooks pitcher's backside that resulted in a RBI groundout. Another two-out base hit followed a hit by a pitch put runners on second and third after A.J. Vukovich advanced to second on the throw to third. The half-inning would come to an end with Amarillo holding a 2-1 lead.
Olivero pitched a 1-2-3 inning to send the Sod Poodles right back to the plate. A double and single plated the third run of the game for Amarillo and brought Roberts back to the dish. The lefty muscled out an opposite-field home run to extend the Amarillo lead to 5-1. The next three were sent back to the dugout in order.
Josh Green took over pitching duties and saw a man get into scoring position after a leadoff walk and stolen base. Green proceeded to retire each of the next three he faced to maintain the 5-1 advantage.
The Sod Poodles tacked on another run in the top of the seventh. Jordan Lawlar started the inning with a single and then stole second base. He advanced to third on a ground out and strutted home as Adrian Del Castillo reached on an error. Green worked a perfect bottom of the seventh and the bats were held without a baserunner in the top of the eighth.
Michel Otanez took over on the mound and struck out a pair in his first inning of work. Amarillo was once again held off the scoreboard despite a two-out walk to keep the inning alive.
Southpaw Kyle Backhus made his second appearance of the series when he took over on the hill in the bottom of the ninth. A leadoff walk was negated on a fielder's choice as Amarillo was unable to turn the double play. Backhus struck out the next batter he faced for the second out of the inning. A single kept the inning alive and a two-out two-run triple made it 6-3. Backhus struck out his second batter of the inning to slam the door on the Hooks with the potential tying run on deck.
Amarillo secured a series split after winning each of the last two games of the first half. Amarillo will return to HODGETOWN next Wednesday, June 28. The second half of the Texas League Schedule will begin with a six-game series against the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A, Los Angeles Dodgers). First pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
NOTES:
HURT BY BERTS:Caleb Roberts picked up the lone multi-hit performance for Amarillo on Sunday, collecting a pair of XBH and two-RBI with his 2-for-4 night at the plate. The lefty-hitter hit his team-leading fifth triple in the top of the fifth inning and then added an opposite-field two-run homer in the next inning, his fourth long ball of the season.
DEYNI'S DAY:After surrendering seven runs on as many hits in just 0.1 IP on Tuesday, Deyni Olivero bounced back to earn the win on Sunday to help secure a series split on Sunday. Olivero picked up his fourth win of the year after 5.0 IP and just three hits allowed. The lone blemish for the Sod Poodles right-hander was a solo home run in the bottom of the third. Olivero struck out four on Sunday with no walks, moving to 4-5 on the year. The Sod Poodles are 8-6 in games Olivero has started.
COLD, HARD, GREEN CASH:Amarillo reliever Josh Green extended his current scoreless streak to seven games and 11.0 IP without a run against him. Green was the first man in relief of Olivero and kept the lone baserunner he walked stranded in scoring position. Green punched out a pair of Hooks without a hit allowed in his outing on Sunday. Over 16 total appearances in 2023, Green has spun 26.1 IP, allowing just 17 hits and seven earned runs with 23 strikeouts and seven walks.The right-hander has been stellar on the road this year, now with a 0.64 ERA over 14.0 IP.
FIRST-HALF RECAP: The Sod Poodles finished the first half of the Texas League schedule with a record of 34-35 and second place in the South Division behind San Antonio who clinched the first-half title earlier this week. The Sod Poodles went 3-5-4 in their 12 series in the first half after earning the split on Sunday. Amarillo was 14-16 at home and was 20-19 away from HODGETOWN. They went 27-30 against South Division opponents and 7-5 against the North.
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