TL1 Midland RockHounds

G'Day, 'Hounds

Published on June 26, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


Midland RockHounds Pitcher Tim Atherton
Midland RockHounds Pitcher Tim Atherton
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Saydee Bailey)

Thursday night's 5-0 win was one of the RockHounds' finest collective efforts of the season and was led by Australia native Tim Atherton.

The right-hander from Shell Harbour, New South Wales, blanked San Antonio over eight innings, allowing just five base runners (two hits, two walks and one hit batsman) while striking out seven (one short of his season high).

Renato Nuñez provided all the offense Atherton would need with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. The towering drive down the left field line was Renato's team-leading 10th home run, and came on the same day in which he was named to his second All-Star Futures Game. Matt Olson, also named to the Futures Game on Thursday, pushed the lead to 3-0 with a second-inning RBI single. 

Josh Whitaker had a tremendous night at Nelson Wolff Stadium, going 2-for-4 at the plate and making a sensational, diving catch in right field to end a San Antonio threat in the sixth. In the only inning during which Atherton got into any serious trouble, the Missions had runners at second and third with two out and the score still 3-0. Casey McElroy sent a line drive toward the gap in right-center, and Whitaker made a diving catch, running at full speed and going airborne to haul in McElroy's drive, saving the shutout and at least two runs. Batting sixth in the order, Josh led off the second inning with a perfect bunt single (and scored on Olson's RBI hit), then added a 400-plus foot double in the fourth.

The game, which might have been a 3-2 contest without Whitaker's "web gem" (it was better than the "best diving catch of the day" on ESPN) then turned on Jaycob Brugman's clutch two-run single in the seventh. The hit (with two on, two out, and an 0-2 count) pushed the lead to 5-0.

The RockHounds

... are 2-1 in the second half and back over .500 overall (37-36) ... have won two straight ... posted their seventh shutout of the season (7-6 in shutouts) ... are 5-4 on their (12-game) road trip (4-1 at San Antonio and 1-3 at Frisco) ... are 10-7 versus San Antonio (5-3 at Security Bank Ballpark and 5-4 at Nelson Wolff Stadium) ... are 21-15 at Security Bank Ballpark and 16-21 on the road ... are 25-24 versus the South Division and 12-12 versus the North ... are tied with Corpus Christi (2-1) for the very early lead in the second half pennant race.

Kibbles & Bits

STAT of the DAY: Manager Ryan Christenson moved Josh Whitaker (6-for-his-last-39) and Matt Olson (2-for-his-last-19 and 10-for-71) to the 6 and 7 spots in the batting order, respectively. Both went 2-for-4, with Josh scoring on Matt's RBI single.

QUICK NOTES: Colin Walsh (1-for-4, double) again extended two streaks ... his league-leading 24th double extended his hit streak to 11 games (13-36, .361) and his on-base streak to 16 straight games (21-55, .382) ... Chad Pinder's 13-game hit streak came to an end (0-4, three K's) ... in his last 15 games, Jaycob Brugman is hitting .339 (21-62) with three doubles, a triple, a (game-winning) home run and nine RBI.

- The 'Hounds & Missions meet Friday and Saturday evenings (7:05) and Sunday afternoon (2:05), followed by the Texas League All-Star break.

Futures!

Renato Nuñez and Matt Olson have been selected for the 2015 All-Star Futures Game, and will represent the RockHounds and the Oakland Athletics at the annual showcase of top prospects. The Futures Game, held in conjunction with the Major League All-Star Game, is set for Sunday, July 12 at Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds. Renato, who will play for World Team, makes his second consecutive appearance (he played in the 2014 game at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN), while Matt will make his Futures debut, playing for the U.S. Team.

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics

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Images from this story

Midland RockHounds Pitcher Tim Atherton
Midland RockHounds Pitcher Tim Atherton
(Saydee Bailey)		   



Texas League Stories from June 26, 2015


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