Diaz's Big Night Leads RockHounds to Win
Published on June 19, 2019 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Twenty-four hours earlier would have been even better, but the RockHounds opened the second half of the Texas League season with a 4-2 win over the Springfield Cardinals Tuesday night at Security Bank Ballpark.
Edwin Diaz drove in three runs and four 'Hounds pitchers scattered six hits in the victory.
Springfield took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Dylan Carlson singled and went to second on a wild pitch, then scored on Justin Toerner's RBI single. After a hit by pitch put men on, starter Daulton Jefferies retired 8-of-the-last-9 batters he faced.
The RockHounds answered with a hat trick in the home half of the inning. Luis Barrera led off with a single, extending his on-base streak to 19 games, and Brallan Perez (who extended his on on-base string to 13 contests) followed with a hit-and-run single to right. Chase Calabuig lined an RBI single up the middle, scoring Barrera, and Diaz ripped a double (through a strong crosswind) high off the left field wall, bringing Perez and Calabuig home.
The score remained 3-1 until the top of the fifth. Carlson doubled with one out and Jose Martinez followed with a single, putting runners at the corners. Carlson then scored on Turner's second RBI, this one a fielder's choice. The 'Hounds got the run right back in the home half of the inning when Tyler Ramirez led off with a double and scored on Diaz's single up the middle.
Springfield had runners at second and third with two out in the sixth, but Grant Holmes got Alberto Triunfel (who was 6-for-12 against the 'Hounds entering the at-bat) to pop out to Diaz at third base. The Cardinals again had two runners on, this time with one out, in the top of the seventh against Cody Stull on an error (Diaz on a high throw to first) and a walk but the 'Hounds turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Angel Duno relieved Stull after the lefty struck out Jose Godoy to open the eighth and retired all five batters he faced, two by strikeout, to earn the 20th save of his pro career and his first at the Double-A level (Holmes got the win and Stull the hold).
The win was the RockHounds' 10th in their last 14 games.
Opening Night, Part Two
All eight clubs were back to 0-0 when they took their respective diamonds Tuesday night. Arkansas (49-25) and Amarillo (34-34) were the first half champions in the North and South Divisions, respectively.
The RockHounds were the only South Division club to win Tuesday night. First half champion Amarillo fell, 7-3, at NW Arkansas ... Corpus Christi lost at home, 6-3, to Arkansas ... and the Drillers blasted Frisco, 8-2, at Tulsa. The RoughRiders, after leading the division over the vast majority of the first half pennant race, are now 10-20 in their last 30 games.
If there is a wild card playoff race this season (which would be the case if first half champion Amarillo also wins the second half) it figures to be a doozy. Each half-season is a complete and separate race but, in the event of a sweep, the best overall season record among the remaining three clubs captures the wild card (two of the titles in the RockHounds' historic Four-Peat, 2014-17, came as a wild card entry).
The second half began with the RockHounds (34-35) one game ahead of Frisco and Corpus Christi (both 33-26).
Notables
Luis Barrera (2-for-4, run) extended his on-base streak to 19 games (33-83, .398) and has hits in 13-of-14 games (25-65, .385). Luis is now hitting .408 in June (31-for-76)
Brallan Perez (1-for-4, run) has reached base in 13 straight games (20-49, .408) and has hits in 10-of-11 (18-40, .450) with six runs, three doubles, a triple, a HR and five RBI.
Edwin Diaz (2-for-4, double, three RBI) has hits in 6-of-his-last-7 games (9-28, .321). Both of his run-producing hits Tuesday night came on 0-2 counts.
Cody Stull has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances (9? innings) and has allowed one earned run in his last 13 outings (19 innings, a 0.47 ERA).
Tyler Ramirez (1-for-4, double, run) has reached base in each of his 14 games since joining the RockHounds from (AAA) Las Vegas.
Catcher Cooper Goldby (1-for-3) has been with the club since June 9 but had yet to play (he took Jonah Heim's roster spot when Jonah went up to Triple-A), backing up Collin Theroux. He didn't waste any time when given the opportunity - - Cooper singled up the middle on the first pitch he saw at the Double-A level.
Wednesday's pitching match-up is a good one. Springfield's Angel Rondon is 2-0, with a 3.31 ERA in six games since being called up from (Advanced-A) Palm Beach and will face the RockHounds' Matt Milburn. Including the last three innings of his June 3 start at Corpus Christi, Matt has not allowed a run in 17 ? innings and has lowered his ERA from 5.64 (on May 18) to 4.36. He blanked Frisco over eight innings (at home) on June 8 and went 6? scoreless frames in his last start (June 14 at Springfield).
Next Game
Wednesday, June 19 vs. Springfield Cardinals
Security Bank Ballpark 6:30 p.m. (Gates open 6:00)
Wins-Day Wednesday A RockHounds inside-the-park home run could mean ten thousand dollars for one lucky fan ...
and everybody wins with half-price hot dogs!
- Final of a three-game series and a third of a seven-game homestand (vs. Arkansas Travelers, June 20-23)
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:15 p.m.
Probable Starters
SPR: Angel Rondon (RH, 2-0, 3.31)
RH: Matt Milburn (RH, 4-4, 4.36)
Texas League Stories from June 19, 2019
- Travelers Trounce Hooks in Series Finale - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Rally Late for Series Win over Soddies - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Naturals Win Series Behind Rivera's Big Day - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Bullpen Stout Again in 6-2 Loss to Tulsa - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Complete Sweep over RoughRiders - Tulsa Drillers
- Second Half Begins with 8-2 Loss in Tulsa - Frisco RoughRiders
- 'Hounds Nip Cards, 4-2, in 2nd Half Opener - Springfield Cardinals
- Diaz's Big Night Leads RockHounds to Win - Midland RockHounds
- Sod Poodles Drop Second Half Opener - Amarillo Sod Poodles
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