Hooks Dig the Long Ball
May 5, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Left Fielder J.P. Sportman
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Alan Jamison)
Houston Astros prospect J.D. Davis hit 26 home runs last season in the (Advanced-A and admittedly hitter-friendly) California League. While J.D. probably didn't expect to take 25 games to hit his first homer at the Double-A level, the timing turned out to be ideal for Corpus Christi. Davis' two-run home run in the fifth inning gave the Hooks a 3-2 lead and his ninth-inning RBI single turned out to be the game-winner, as Corpus Christi earned its first win over the RockHounds in six tries in 2016 with a 7-6 triumph at Security Bank Ballpark.
Davis' first home run was also the first of five the clubs combined to hit as the game see-sawed over the last five innings. Jaycob Brugman's fourth of the year tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh and J.P. Sportman (see below) followed with a two-run single for a 5-3 advantage. Hooks first baseman Chase McDonald led off the eighth with a monstrous, towering drive to left, drawing the Hooks to within 5-4. Davis doubled on the next pitch and would score the tying run on James Ramsay's single.
With one out in the ninth, Teoscar Hernandez hit a short porch home run to right, but it was Davis' RBI single (scoring Derek Fisher) later in the inning that would provide the final margin of victory. With former RockHound Brendan McCurry trying to close the game with two outs in the last of the ninth, Viosergy Rosa drilled the game's fifth home run, a solo shot to right-center. Sportman then reached scoring position on an error and a passed ball, but McCurry struck out Beau Taylor (his battery mate from the 2015 Texas League championship club) to end the game.
The RockHounds
... are 16-10 (9-3 at Security Bank Ballpark and 7-7 on the road) ... have won seven of their last nine ... are 4-2 on the homestand (with two games remaining against the Hooks) ... and are 5-1 versus Corpus Christi (including a four-game sweep at Corpus, April 21-24).
... fell 3.5 games behind first place Frisco in the Texas League South Division after the RoughRiders (19-6) rallied back for an 8-6 win at San Antonio. The Hooks remain seven games behind the Riders in the South (also see "Stat of the Day," below).
... continue their four-game set with Corpus Christi (Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate) with a very special "Cinco de Mayo" celebration on Thursday night at Security Bank Ballpark. In addition to "Thirsty Thursday" ... the first 500 fans receive a RockHounds sombrero (!) and we'll have Thursday night postgame fireworks. The homestand concludes on Friday night with our adult jersey giveaway (7:00 p.m. first pitch both nights).
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY The Texas League season is divided into two, 70-game pennant races, each its own separate entity. Just 26 games into the first half of this season, the San Antonio Missions (9-17) find themselves TEN-and-a-half games behind Frisco in the South.
- Teoscar Hernandez's solo home run (it was a classic "short porch" homer) and the subsequent RBI single from J.D. Davis were the first two runs that RockHounds reliever Ryan Doolittle has allowed in 10 appearances this season.
- After starting the season 5-for-35 (.143) in his first nine games, J.P. Sportman has now hit in eight consecutive games and has a .433 average (13-30) in the stretch. He went 2-for-4 with a triple, one run, two RBI, a walk and a stolen base on Wednesday night.
- Viosergy Rosa's ninth-inning home run extended his on-base streak to 13 games (14-for-47, .298 average with two home runs, nine RBI and a .450 OBP).
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Left Fielder J.P. Sportman (Alan Jamison) |
Texas League Stories from May 5, 2016
- Frisco Clinches Series with 11-4 Victory - San Antonio Missions
- De Jong Dazzles, Drillers Win 7-1 Thursday - Arkansas Travelers
- Dozier Does It Again as Naturals Win 3-2 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. at San Antonio Missions - May 5, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Aubrie Sellers Opening for Clint Black - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hooks Dig Deep to Square Series - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Overcome Four-Run Deficit, Walk Off - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Dig the Long Ball - Midland RockHounds
- Riders Rally for Another Win in San Antonio - Frisco RoughRiders
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