TL1 Midland RockHounds

Hooks Win Pitchers Duel 1-0

Published on May 18, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


On paper, there couldn't have been many (if any) better pitching match-ups in Minor League Baseball than last night's pairing at Citibank Ballpark, with Corpus Christi's Jake Buchanan (3-0, 1.04) opposing the RockHounds' Murphy Smith (4-3, 2.04).

The pair ... and the game ... were "as advertised, with the Hooks claiming a 1-0 win, but both pitchers had to pull a "Houdini act" or two along the way. The RockHounds had scoring chances in four-of-the-first-eight innings, including a pair of one-out triples from Chad Oberacker, but could not push a run across against Buchanan or the Hooks bullpen. Buchanan, himself, may have kept the goose-egg by snaring D'Arby Myers' line drive up the middle with two on and two out in the fifth.

The game's only run came across in the Corpus Christi fifth, when Jonathan Meyer singled leading off the inning. He went to second on a throwing error by Smith and advanced to third on Erik Castro's fly ball to center. From there it was former Oakland farmhand Max Stassi who would provide the game's biggest swing, an RBI double to the wall in left field.

Buchanan, who entered the game ranked first in the Texas League with a 1.04 earned run average, earned his fourth win and dropped his ERA below one (0.93). Despite taking the loss (4-4), Smith lowered his ERA to 2.00.

South Division

The division-leading Hooks maintained a two-game lead over Frisco, with San Antonio falling three games back and the 'Hounds trailing by five.

Kibbles & Bits

- Corpus Christi's in was its fifth in-a-row in the season series. The clubs split four games here (April 22-25) with the Hooks then sweeping a four-game set at Whataburger Field (April 30-May 3).

- Chad Oberacker has now hit in 7-of-8 games, going 12-for-33 (.364) in that stretch. His two triples Friday were his fourth and fifth, ranking second in the Texas League.

- Anthony Aliotti had a single and walk, extending his on-base streak to 14 games. Correcting "Ali's" numbers in the streak ... he is batting .417 (20-of-48) with an OBP of .525 (on-base in 31-of-59). It's a "nice mistake" to make, as we used the numbers from Ali's other 13-game on-base streak this season in calculating yesterday's numbers!

- D'Arby Myers lost a five-game hit streak Friday, but is still 9-for-his-last-23 (.391).

- Dusty Coleman extended his mini-streak to three games (5-for-14) and Tyler Ladendorf is now 7-for-17 (.412) in his last six games.

- Reliever Frank Gailey went 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Murphy, lowering his ERA to 1.06. The lefty hasn't allowed an earned run (and just one run overall) in his last eight outings.

- The RockHounds and Corpus Christi continue their four-game series Saturday night (7:00) with fireworks following the game. The clubs then play Sunday afternoon at 2:00 and wrap up the set Monday evening at 6:30.

- The RockHounds ... in the midst of playing 14-of-18 games on the road ... then pack the bags one more time, traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Springfield, Missouri for what will be on a six-game, seven-day road trip (May 22-29).

WP Jake Buchanan (4-0, 0.93)

LP Murphy Smith (4-4, 2.00)

Sv Patrick Urckfitz (1, 3.57)

HR None

Next Game

vs. Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros' AA Affiliate)

Saturday, May C2 7:00 p.m. Radio at 6:50 p.m.

Citibank C2

Probable Starters

Corpus Christi (RH) Nick Tropeano (0-2, 2.25)

(RH) Bobby Doran (5-1, 3.16) (The Hooks employ a "piggy-back" starting rotation.)

RockHounds (RH) Zach 0 (3-1, 2.63)

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics

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Texas League Stories from May 18, 2013


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