'Hounds Are Historically Good ... Renato Is Just Grand
September 7, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
In 44 years of Cubs, Angels and RockHounds baseball, the franchise has seen some remarkable offensive performances. That being said, it's hard to imagine a more impressive pair of games "at the dish" than Renato Nuñez has put together on Labor Day weekend, 2015, in Frisco.
In leading the 'Hounds to wins of 21-4 and 7-1, Nunez is 8-for-11, with a double, two grand slam home runs and 11 runs batted in.
With Sunday's win, the RockHounds made franchise history, capturing their 82nd victory, surpassing the 1975 Cubs for most wins in a season.
In the RockHounds' 11-run ninth inning Saturday night, Nuñez drove in five runs with an RBI single and his first grand slam. After a first-inning single on Sunday, he came to the plate with the game scoreless, the bases loaded and two out in the third inning. After falling behind, 0-2, Renato drove a Jose Leclerc pitch out to left, a monster shot similar to his Saturday night "slam" (also see "Stats of the Day" below).
After Chad Oberacker's two-run single in the fourth extended the RockHounds' lead to 6-0, Leclerc hit Nuñez with one on and one out in the fifth. The hit batsman came on the first pitch of the plate appearance and home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson immediately ejected Leclerc. The benches (and Frisco bullpen) emptied, but no punches were thrown and the situation did not escalate any further.
Dillon Overton pitched five scoreless innings (four hits, no walks and five strikeouts) for the win, with the pitching "blueprint" working almost perfectly for the second consecutive night. The lefty was followed by four relievers (Omar Duran, Jeff Urlaub, Andres Avila and Brendan McCurry), each pitching one inning. Duran allowed a run on a pair of flair hits, but escaped any further damage. Urlaub, Avila and McCurry then closed the game, allowing a combined two hits and no walks and five strikeouts, throwing a total of 34 pitches ... 30 of them strikes.
The RockHounds
... are 47-22 in the second half and 82-57 overall (a new season high-water mark at 25 games over .500) ... are 4-2 through the first five games of their (seven-game) road trip and have clinched a series win at Frisco entering Monday's regular season finale ... lead the season series with Frisco, 19-8, finishing 11-3 at home and now 8-5 at Dr Pepper Ballpark ... are 36-15 in their last 51 games (a .706 winning percentage dating back to mid-July and the beginning of a 26 games in 26 days portion of the schedule) ... finished 45-25 at Security Bank Ballpark (the league's best home record) ... are 37-32 on the road (also a new season high) ... are 53-38 vs. the South Division and 29-19 vs. the North.
Kibbles & Bits
STATS OF THE DAY: Saturday night, Renato Nuñez went 5-for-7 (with a double, a grand slam and six runs batted in), with five of the ribbies coming in the ninth inning (on slam # 1 and an RBI single). He then followed a first-inning single Sunday with slam # 2, meaning Nunez had two singles, two grand slams and nine RBI in the span of four at-bats.
Saturday's five-hit game was the fifth in the Texas League this season, and the 'Hounds are responsible for all five: Ryon Healy, remarkably, has three of them, with Nuñez and Jaycob Brugman each collecting one.
There have been 20 grand slam home runs in the league this season, and 'Hounds hitters now have seven of them: Nuñez and Chad Pinder each have two, while Brugman, Wade Kirkland and Bruce Maxwell have one each.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The RockHounds have clinched the best half-season in franchise history and the second-best overall record in the franchise's 44 years ... and have eclipsed the 1975 Cubs (81-53) for most wins in a season.
- Since falling behind Frisco, 3-0, after two innings in Saturday night's opener, the RockHounds have outscored the RoughRiders, 28-2.
- Anthony Aliotti extended his hit streak to 14 games (19-for-59, .322) and his on-base streak to 22 straight (30-for-94, .319).
Texas League Stories from September 7, 2015
- Marte Goes Deep But Riders Drop Season Finale - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks End Regular Year with MiLB-Best 89 Wins - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Another Big Inning Lifts Hooks Past Missions in Season Finale - San Antonio Missions
- Arkansas Travelers Second Half Champs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Win Regular Season Finale, 6-3, on Monday - Springfield Cardinals
- Late Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss at Arkansas - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RockHounds Sweep Weekly Texas League Honors - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Close Season with Loss in Springfield - Tulsa Drillers
- 'Hounds Are Historically Good ... Renato Is Just Grand - Midland RockHounds
- Tulsa Offense Explodes in 10-4 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Top Cards Before 8,385 Fans at Hammons Field - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Rout Missions for Win No. 88 - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
