Healy's Heroics & Shoeless Joe Mikulik
Published on June 17, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Ryon Healy of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
The RockHounds won a game (and a series) ...Frisco lost a game ... the umpiring crew missed a call ... and Joe Mikulik lost his shoes.
All of that, plus hitting heroics from Ryon Healy, highlighted the finale of the RockHounds' only home stand in June, with the 'Hounds erasing a three-run deficit in the last of the ninth for a 5-4 victory (in 10 innings) and a 3-games-to-1 series win over the RoughRiders.
Healy had three hits Tuesday night, each of them critical. His fourth-inning single tied the game at 1-1 ... his ninth inning double (crushed to deep center field) was the start of the game-tying rally ... and his hit in the 10th was the game-winner, a walk-off single to left.
The 'Hounds trailed, 4-1, entering the home half of the ninth, but collected five consecutive hits (four of them doubles) off David Martinez to even the score. Healy's leadoff two-bagger was followed by an RBI double from Bruce Maxwell and a pinch-hit single to right from Chad Oberacker, putting runners at the corners. Jaycob Brugman drove a two-run double down the left field line to tie the game at 4-4, but was thrown out bidding for a triple. Colin Walsh then sent the fourth double of the inning into the right field corner, which would have easily scored Brugman had he remained at second. Instead, after a 1-2-3 inning from Ryan Dull, the 'Hounds won the game in the 10th. A single from Matt Olson started the rally, which was fueled by Martinez' throwing error on Chad Pinder's sacrifice bunt attempt. The errant throw put runners at the corners, and Healy ended the game with his walk-off single to left.
In the fifth, after Frisco had taken a 2-1 lead, Jake Skole was called out at home despite the throw (from Olson at first base) clearly getting out of (catcher) Maxwell's glove. The umpiring crew discussed the call, but ruled that it would stand. Frisco manager Joe Mikulik then was tossed on an "ejection for the books" (and likely his checkbook), slamming his helmet (which got him the heave-ho) and then taking off his shoes. In addition to doing a "Billy Martin" (kicking dirt on the plate before removing his footware), he drop-kicked one shoe and threw the other into the screen. Before leaving the field of play (and it took a while), "Shoeless Joe" took off his RoughRiders jersey and tossed it into left field.
The RockHounds
... returned to .500 (32-32) for the season ... have won three straight after breaking out of an eight-game losing streak (Sunday) ... are now 6-1 in extra-inning games ... improved to 9-3 versus the Frisco RoughRiders (7-1 at Security Bank Ballpark and 2-2 at Dr Pepper Ballpark) ... won the four-game series with the RoughRiders, 3-1 ... are 21-15 at Security Bank Ballpark and 11-17 on the road ... are 20-20 in South Division play and finished first half cross-division play 12-12 versus the North.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT of the DAY # 1: In the three wins over Frisco, the RockHounds bullpen combined to throw 8.1 scoreless innings.
STAT of the DAY # 2: The win marked the third time this season the RockHounds have won a game after trailing going into the ninth inning. There have been only nine such wins in the Texas League in 2015, and the 'Hounds are the only club to do it three times.
- With Tuesday's win, the RockHounds wrapped up their "expansive," eight-game June home schedule. The club now opens a (season high) 12-game road trip, with two stops in San Antonio (June 17-20 and 25-28) and a four-game series in Frisco (June 21-24). The road swing will mark the end of the Texas League first half and begin the second (June 22), when all eight clubs revert to 0-0.
- The Texas League All-Star Game (a three-day break) follows the 12-game road swing, meaning that, by the time the RockHounds next play at Security Bank Ballpark, the calendar will have turned to July (the 2nd) and the league will be a half-dozen games into the second half race.
Images from this story
 Ryon Healy of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from June 17, 2015
- Long Ball Carries Naturals in Opener at Springfield, 9-3 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Series Opener Between San Antonio and Midland Postponed Due to Rain - San Antonio Missions
- Hooks, RoughRiders Postponed - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Wednesday's RoughRiders-Hooks Game Postponed - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Rained out Due to Tropical Storm Bill - Tulsa Drillers
- Jamie Quirk promoted to Triple-A El Paso, Rod Barajas tabbed new San Antonio skipper - San Antonio Missions
- Gallo and Lopez Recognized by Texas Rangers - Frisco RoughRiders
- SA Secures Series Split - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Healy's Heroics & Shoeless Joe Mikulik - Midland RockHounds
- Hancock Guides Missions to Series Split - San Antonio Missions
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