TL1 Midland RockHounds

'Hounds Feed Fans, Sweep Hooks

Published on April 29, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


The folks in Corpus Christi have a standing "bounty" on the visiting teams, one in which fans receive free tacos if Hooks pitchers strike out 10 (or more) opposing batters. The RockHounds may have "fed" the fans during each night of their stay in Corpus, but the 'Hounds took home a little something of their own - - - a sweep of the four-game series.

A four-run sixth inning powered the RockHounds to an 8-1 win the finalé, capping a series in which the 'Hounds trailed Corpus Christi, 7-0, after two innings in the opener and went on to outscore the Hooks, 21-2, over the last 30 innings of the set (the opener went 14 innings).

Every batter in the 'Hounds order scored a run, drove one in, or both. Starter Dylan Covey allowed a run in the first inning, then pitched five scoreless frames to earn the win. Ben Bracewell, making his Double-A debut, walked the first two batters he faced before settling in to keep the Hooks off the board in the seventh and eighth. Ryan Doolittle closed the door in the ninth with his seventh consecutive scoreless outing.

The RockHounds

... are 12-8 (5-1 at Security Bank Ballpark and 7-7 on the road) ... have won four straight ... finished their road trip at 5-3.

... remain second in the Texas League South, 3.5 games behind Frisco (15-4) and 2.5 games ahead of Corpus Christi.

... return to Security Bank Ballpark on Friday night to open an eight-game homestand, facing the same two division rivals they met on the road trip. The RockHounds host the San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' Double-A affiliate) Friday through Monday (April 29-May 2), followed by a four-game set with the Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros' Double-A club) next Tuesday through Friday (May 3-6).

Kibbles & Bits

STAT OF THE DAY After busting out to a 7-0 lead after two innings Monday night, Corpus Christi scored two runs in the last 39 innings of the series. Beginning with the third inning Monday night, the RockHounds team ERA was 0.46.

- Corpus Christi had not been swept in a four-game series at home since 2011 ... by the RockHounds.

- Franklin Barreto extended his hit streak to six games (12-for-27, .444), going 3-for-4 (and reaching base in 4-of-5 trips) with a stolen base.

- Yairo Munoz's solo home run leading off the sixth (in his second Double-A game) triggered a key four-run rally.

- Beau Taylor went 2-for-4 with two doubles (one a towering 400-foot drive that bounced over the wall just to the right of the batter's eye) with two RBI ... J.P. Sportman went 2-for-4 with a double and Danny Oh went 1-for-3 with a walk, a perfect sac bunt and two stolen bases.

ROSTER MOVES  

- Pitcher Ben Bracewell and catcher Andy Paz have been assigned to the RockHounds from (Advanced-A) Stockton to fill the roster spots created when pitcher San Bragg (right hip) and catcher Carson Blair (left oblique) were placed on the disabled list.

Ben Bracewell (1-1, 12.60 in five relief appearances in Stockton) was signed by Oakland as a non-drafted free agent in July 2014. The 25-year-old Mississippi State University product began his pro career with the River City Rascals of the (independent) Frontier League.

Andy Paz (8-for-19, .421, double, triple, two RBI with the Ports) was signed by Oakland as an international free agent January of 2011. The 23-year-old was born in La Habana, Cuba, and makes his home in L'Union, France.

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics

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Texas League Stories from April 29, 2016


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