Double Down: "Black Jack Night" in Springdale
July 14, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Colin Walsh of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals entered Monday's game having lost seven straight games and having been held scoreless in 26 consecutive innings, with five of the losses and 18 of the goose-egg innings "compliments" of the RockHounds. The Naturals got out of the slump doing what a Las Vegas gambler might do at the Black Jack table - - - they doubled down.
A team-record eight doubles propelled Northwest Arkansas to a 5-2 win in the finale of a three-game series at Arvest Ballpark. A three-run first inning would stand up as the difference, and the Naturals also had a Major League presence on the mound, with Kansas City Royals left-hander Jason Vargas making a rehabilitation start.
Five Northwest Arkansas hitters drove in one run each and seven Naturals had at least one double in a 10-hit attack.
The RockHounds took Vargas deep twice, on solo home runs from Chad Oberacker and Colin Walsh, but the Naturals countered with a single run each time, and the three-run first would provide the final margin of victory.
The RockHounds
... are 11-7 in the second half and 46-42 overall ... finished 2-4 on their (six-game) road trip ... were swept by Arkansas and won the series at Northwest Arkansas (2-1) ... finished the regular season 8-4 versus NW Arkansas (5-1 at home and 3-3 at Arvest Ballpark) ... are 26-16 at Security Bank Ballpark and 20-26 on the road ... are 27-25 vs. the South Division and 19-17 vs. the North.
- Texas League South: The RockHounds and Frisco both fell Monday (Arkansas ended the RoughRiders' five-game win streak, 4-3, in North Little Rock), so the 'Hounds hold their half-game lead over the Riders (10-7) in the second half race. First half champion Corpus Christi (10-8) won its fifth straight to move within one game of the 'Hounds. With their 9-5 victory over Springfield (at Corpus), the Hooks are the league's hottest team. San Antonio (8-10) defeated Tulsa, bringing the Missions to within three games of the top spot.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY Enjoy the off day, guys ... following Tuesday's league-wide travel / off day, the Texas League clubs play 26 games in 26 days. The 26-game stretch (July 15-August 9) is all divisional play.
- Renato Nuñez and Matt Olson will re-join the RockHounds for the home stand, opening Wednesday, after their participation in the All-Star Futures Game. The pair will be activated from the temporarily inactive list Wednesday.
- Chad Pinder extended his hit streak to eight games with a double (off Vargas) in the first. Including the eight-gamer (11-35, .314), Chad is hitting .330 in his last 46 games. He ranks fifth in the Texas League with a 2.97 average and is tied for fourth in the TL with 47 RBI.
- Bruce Maxwell (1-for-4) has hit in four straight games (5-14, .357) and in nine of his last 10 games (13-39, .333). The RockHounds catcher has also now reached base in 19-of-20 games, (21-68, .309).
- Andres Avila pitched two scoreless innings Monday (one hit, two strikeouts). After posting an 8.25 in his first eight appearances with the RockHounds (all in May), Andres has allowed one earned run in his last nine appearances (13.2 innings) for a 0.66 ERA in that span.
Probable Pitchers for San Antonio Series
Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. - San Antonio RHP Bryan Rodriguez (4-10, 4.55 ERA) vs RockHounds RHP Chris Jensen (5-9, 5.68 ERA)
Thursday at 7:00 p.m. - San Antonio RHP Elliot Morris (3-8, 5.04 ERA) vs RockHounds RHP Parker Frazier (0-0, 1.59 ERA)
Friday at 7:00 p.m. - San Antonio RHP Justin Hancock (6-5, 3.24 ERA) vs RockHounds RHP Jonathan Joseph (6-3, 2.45 ERA)
Saturday at 7:00 p.m. - San Antonio RHP Casey Kelly (1-5, 4.47 ERA) vs RockHounds RHP Jake Sanchez (7-5, 4.70 ERA)
Images from this story
 Colin Walsh of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from July 14, 2015
- Cheap Brews, Groovy Gruves, Free Jersey Pillows and Back to the Future Night Highlight Homestand - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Coming Back to Tulsa for 4-Games - Tulsa Drillers
- Double Down: "Black Jack Night" in Springdale - Midland RockHounds
- 7th Inning Longballs Lift Travs to 4-2 Homestand - Arkansas Travelers
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