Historically Good ... with a Ways Yet to Go
August 17, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Matt Olson of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
With Sunday's 9-0 win over the Tulsa Drillers, the RockHounds eclipsed a franchise record that had stood for 40 years. The shutout was the 'Hounds' 16th, one more than the Midland Cubs put in the books in 1975, and came with 20 games remaining in the season.
Sean Manaea combined with relievers Kris Hall, Andres Avila and Jonathan Joseph on a five-hitter, backed by a 13-hit attack and an outstanding defensive effort that included a pair of run-saving catches.
Jaycob Brugman, who also drove in a pair of runs, saved at least one run (and quite probably two) with an airborne, diving catch off the bat of Adam Law in the gap in left-center with two on and no outs in the fifth. One inning later, Matt Olson took a short-porch, two-run home run away from Webster Rivas, reaching over the corner of the bullpen fence (and into the 'pen) to make a tremendous catch ending the sixth.
Olson went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a home run (his 14th of the year) and four runs batted in. Chad Pinder (see below) also had a three-hit game, with a double, three runs scored and his league-leading 79th RBI.
The RockHounds finished their six-game home stand with a 5-1 mark, pushing their season record to a new high-water mark of 18 games over .500 both overall (69-51) and in the second half (34-16).
The RockHounds
... are 34-16 in the second half and 69-51 overall (as mentioned, above, a new season high at 18 games over .500) ... have won seven of their last eight and 9-of-11 ... are 23-9 in their last 32 games (a .719 winning percentage) ... finished their (six-game) home stand 5-1, sweeping Springfield and taking 2-of-3 from Tulsa ... are 5-1 against Tulsa in 2015 (5-1 at Security Bank Ballpark and 3-0 at ONEOK Field in Tulsa) ... are 41-22 at Security Bank Ballpark (corrected) and 28-29 on the road ... are 45-33 vs. the South Division and 24-18 vs. the North.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY: Chad Pinder went without a hit both Friday and Saturday (oh, by the way, he also had the game-winning RBI in Saturday's game). Back-to-back "oh-fers" is not usually noteworthy, but in this case they are a testament to consistency. Before going on hitless Friday and Saturday (August 14 & 15), the last two times Chad went without a hit in consecutive games were June 26 & 28 and May 28 & 29. He has hit in 35 of his last 38 games (.356).
Texas League South: The RockHounds and Drillers were the only matinee on Sunday's Texas League schedule. Pending the outcome of the evening games, the RockHounds lead first half champion Corpus Christi (27-22) by 6.5 games ... Frisco (22-26) by 11 and San Antonio (22-27) by 11.5 games. The RockHounds' two "magic numbers" both went down Sunday afternoon and now stand at ten (10) to clinch a playoff spot (eliminating Frisco) and fifteen (15) to clinch the second half pennant (over Corpus Christi). Those numbers, too, could be reduced by one should Corpus Christi (at NW Arkansas) or Frisco (home versus Springfield) lose. The RockHounds have 20 games remaining in the regular season, facing Frisco (six, three home and three road), Corpus Christi (four, home), San Antonio (four, road) and three games each at Springfield and Tulsa on the upcoming road trip.
- Sean Manaea has been involved in a combination shutout twice in four starts with the RockHounds. Then lefty went seven scoreless (with nine strikeouts) in his RockHounds / Oakland organization debut, a 4-0 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks (July 31 at Security Bank Ballpark).
- Colin Walsh has reached base in 11 straight (.366) ... in 57 of 61 games (.338) ... and 86 of 93 games (.315). After going 1-for-3 (with two walks), Colin has now hit in 30 of his last 34 games (.359) and leads the league with 91 bases on balls one ahead of teammate Matt Olson).
Images from this story
 Matt Olson of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from August 17, 2015
- Reyes and Diaz Sweep Texas League Weekly Awards - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Return Home for Playoff Push - Tulsa Drillers
- Mizzou Night Cap and Ticket Package Available Now - Springfield Cardinals
- Historically Good ... with a Ways Yet to Go - Midland RockHounds
- Suarez Dominates Again But Travs Lose 1-0 - Arkansas Travelers
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