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TL1 Amarillo Sod Poodles

Hodgetown Draws 21st Consecutive Sellout, Sod Poodles Fall to RoughRiders to Even Series

August 2, 2019 - Texas League (TL1)
Amarillo Sod Poodles News Release


AMARILLO, Texas - The Amarillo Sod Poodles dropped the second game of the four-game set with the Frisco RoughRiders by a final score of 5-2 in front of 6,596 fans to mark the 21st consecutive sellout at HODGETOWN.

Padres top prospect MacKenzie Gore made his fourth start for the Sod Poodles and second at HODGETOWN, tossing five and one-third innings while allowing three runs and five hits with a career-high four walks and six strikeouts, taking the loss to mark his first at the Double-A level.

Buddy Reed led Amarillo's eight-hit night, going 2-for-2 with a double and RBI while newcomer Taylor Trammell collected his first hit in a Sod Poodles uniform. Owen Miller also highlighted the night with his ninth-inning solo home run to mark his 11th of the season.

After a scoreless first frame on each side, Frisco broke the game open with a solo run in the second. Following a leadoff walk to Preston Beck, Michael De Leon sent a double down the left-field line, quickly putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. Eliezer Alvarez struck a sacrifice fly ball to left fielder Buddy Reed to plate Beck, but two strikeouts would end the threat and keep it at a 1-0 contest.

In the bottom of the third, the Sod Poodles tied things up at 1-1 after Brad Zunica led the frame off with his fifth career triple and was batted in on Reed's sacrifice fly ball to left field.

Frisco came right back in the top of the fourth with a run following a leadoff single, walk and another single to make it a 2-1 RoughRiders lead.

In the sixth, Frisco extended out to a 5-1 advantage after plating three runs. Following two consecutive one-out walks, Alex Kowalczyk singled to plate the first run. A wild pitch and a two-out single would scatter the additional two runs.

The contest went scoreless until the ninth when Amarillo sparked a rally. After Miller led off the frame with a solo home run to mark Amarillo's second run and cut the deficit to three runs, Hudson Potts drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Brad Zunica grounded out to force an out at second and end the brief rally.

The Sod Poodles continue their four-game series with the RoughRiders with game three tomorrow at HODGETOWN. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES:

Tomorrow's Preview: The Sod Poodles head into game three of the four-game homestand Saturday against the Frisco RoughRiders. Righty Jesse Scholtens will get the start for the Soddies, looking for his fifth victory of the season. He will face off against Collin Wiles for Frisco.

Back On The Bump: Blake Rogers made his first appearance with the Sod Poodles since June 21 at Tulsa where he tossed four shutout innings.

Free Pass: MacKenzie Gore walked a career-high four batter Friday night against the RoughRiders. Before Friday night Gore held a career-high of three walks three times with the last coming on July 2nd at High-A Rancho Cucamonga.

First Hit: Padres number three overall prospect, Taylor Trammell recorded his first hit with the Sod Poodles Friday night as he reached on an infield single to third base in the sixth inning.

Torrens on a Tear: Sod Poodles catcher Luis Torrens extended his hit streak to 15 games after a single in the second inning. His four RBI on Monday night also tied a career-high. During the 15-game streak, he is batting .442 (52 AB) with 4 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R, and a .500 OBP. Torrens' longest career hit streak is 21 games, which was recorded in 2014 (6/28-7/26 with Staten Island).

Season Best: Starter Kyle Lloyd collected a season-high nine strikeouts on Thursday in the series opener against Frisco. He earned his sixth win (third consecutive) after allowing four runs on six hits and one walk.

Hosed: Buddy Reed recorded his 13th outfield assist Thursday against the RoughRiders. Reed leads the team with his 13 outfield assists. Reed has recorded nine of the twelve assists from center field, two from right field, and now two from left field.

Starting Strong: Sod Poodles starting pitching has recently been excellent. In the last seven games, Amarillo starters have allowed just 12 ER in 49.1 IP, which totals a 2.20 ERA.

1,200 Wins: Sod Poodles inaugural manager Phillip Wellman earned his 1,200-career regular-season win as a Minor League Baseball manager Tuesday night. Wellman currently sits 13th in total wins among active MiLB managers. Wellman is in his 20th season as a minor league manager. Wellman's managerial career began in 1992 with the Baltimore Orioles Gulf Coast League affiliate. He has also managed Winston-Salem (Cincinnati Reds High-A) of the Carolina League (1996), Burington (Cincinnati Class A) of the Midwest League (1997-98), Chattanooga (Cincinnati AA) of the Southern League (1999, 2001-2003), Mississippi (Atlanta AA) of the Southern League (2007-2010) and Arkansas (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim AA) of the Texas League (2014). He spent the 2016-2018 seasons as the manager of the San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres AA), before being transferred to Amarillo with the change in affiliate locations.

Not One But Two: Sod Poodles infielder Peter Van Gansen hit two solo homers in Monday's 12-2 win. It was the first multi-homer game of his career. Van Gansen hit one in the 2nd and one in the 9th...both to right field.

July Joy: Amarillo went 18-10 in the month of July, which was the best record in the month of July among Texas League teams. It's the best month of the season for the Sod Poodles. In May the Soddies went 16-11, which was the team's only other winning month this season.

Double-A Leaders: The Sod Poodles lead all of Double-A baseball with a .266 team batting average this season. They rank second in runs scored this season (534), trailing only the Corpus Christi Hooks (551).

Among the TL's Best: The Sod Poodles have four players among the Texas League's top-10 in batting average: Ivan Castillo (.331 - 1st), Luis Torrens (.300 - 4th), Edward Olivares (.296 - 5th), and Owen Miller (.290 - 8th).

Swing And A Miss: The Sod Poodles pitching staff ranks third in all of Double-A with 1019 strikeouts this season. Amarillo trails fellow Texas League foes Corpus Christi (1089) and Arkansas (1038). Four of the top five clubs in the category are from the Texas League with Springfield ranking in fourth place with 1013 strikeouts.

Sellout Streak: Following Thursday's game of 6,596 fans at HODGETOWN, the Sod Poodles have hosted 21 straight sellouts and 31 overall so far during the 2019 season in 51 home games.

300K+: The Sod Poodles have welcomed a total of 322,817 fans so far during the inaugural season and are the second team in the Texas League to reach over 300,000 fans.

Olivares' Big July: In the midst of putting together one of the Texas League's finest seasons at the plate in 2019, outfielder Edward Olivares is hitting .356 with 5 home runs, 18 RBI, and a .991 OPS.

Saving The Day: David Bednar recorded his eighth save of the season Tuesday night at Northwest Arkansas. Bednar's save ranks will first among the Sod Poodles pitching save and fourth in the Texas League in the category. Art Warren of Arkansas leads the league with 13 saves this season.

Three Bags for Zunica: Brad Zunica hit his second triple of the season Friday night against the RoughRiders. Zunica's last triple came on June 17 at Northwest Arkansas. Last season with Lake Elsinore Zunica hit a career-high three triples.

Swipin' Bags: Sod Poodles outfielder Buddy Reed stole his 14th base of the season Tuesday at Northwest Arkansas. Reed is eight stolen bases away from 100 career stolen bags.

Upcoming: Amarillo will head back on the road for a seven-game road trip following the four games at home against Frisco, taking them through Midland and back to face up against Frisco.

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