'Hounds Get Hazelbaker-ed on a Sunday Afternoon
June 1, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Colin Walsh of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Saydee Bailey)
Springfield's Jeremy Hazelbaker has had an interesting 2015 season, opening the season in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and playing for the Texas League Tulsa Drillers. Released by the Dodgers on the first of May, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals and assigned to Springfield, the Cardinals' Double-A club. Same league ... same division (Texas League North).
We're not sure if he has settled in with his new club, but Hazelbaker certainly made himself at home at Security Bank Ballpark, going 6-for-14 in the three game series, with two doubles, a triple, a home run and three runs batted in (he also had two tremendous catches in right field during the series, each taking away a potential "short porch" home run at the right field bullpen fence). Much of his damage at the plate came Sunday (2-for-5, triple, home run, two runs and three RBI), leading the Cardinals to a 7-2 victory and a two-games-to-one win in the three-game series.
After Chris Lamb retired the Cardinals in order in the first (two by strikeout), the RockHounds loaded the bases with two out in the home half of the inning. Left fielder Anthony Garcia then tracked down Chad Pinder's line drive to end the threat, and it would prove to be an omen. The 'Hounds stranded 15 base runners in the 7-2 loss, leaving the bases loaded in the first and again in the fifth.
After Springfield manufactured a run in the second, Hazelbaker took over. He tripled in the third, driving in the game's second run and scoring on a ground to make the score 3-0. Springfield extended the lead to 5-0 before Hazelbaker capped the Cardinals' scoring with a two-run home run in the fourth. All seven runs came against Lamb, with the left-hander lifted after three-and-two-thirds innings.
Pinder drove in both RockHounds runs, following walks to Colin Walsh and Matt Olson in the fifth. Walsh led the 'Hounds, reaching base in each of his five plate appearances. The 'Hounds' second baseman had two singles, two doubles and a walk.
The RockHounds
... are now 26-24 for the season ... finished the home stand 4-2 ... and 10-4 in their last two home stands ... are 18-10 at Security Bank Ballpark, the second best home record in the Texas League (NW Arkansas is 21-8) ... are 17-15 in South Division play and 9-9 versus the North Division ... trail Corpus Christi (33-16) by seven-and-a-half games in the TL South ... there are 20 games remaining in the first half pennant race.
Kibbles & Bits
- Colin Walsh (4-for-4, run, walk two doubles) is 10-for-his-last-19 (.526) and has reached base in 25-of-26 games (.306 with a .438 OBP).
- Chad Oberacker (ninth in the league at .309) has been placed on the disabled list (left hamstring strain), effective May 30.
The RockHounds bullpen combined to pitch five-and-a-third scoreless innings, allowing four hits and four walks with five strikeouts.
- Kris Hall pitched two-and-a-third, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out three. Although the reliever shares the league lead with 29 walks, and has a WHIP of more than two (2.09), his ERA is now under three (2.94). Kris has allowed just one run in his last nine-and-two-thirds innings, and posted a 1.72 ERA in the month of May.
- Seth Frankoff has been reassigned to the RockHounds after spending most of the month with the (Triple-A) Nashville Sounds. While totaling just 10-and-a-third innings in nine appearances with the Pacific Coast League club (0-1, 5.91), the right-hander picked up where he left off with the RockHounds. Seth pitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday, lowering his ERA to 0.82 in eight appearances.
- Ryan Dull allowed a Nick Martini double, but kept Springfield off the board, dropping his ERA to 0.37 in 16 games. Ryan ranks among the league's top three relievers in average (.180), walks per nine innings (1.48), strikeouts per nine (12.21) and base runners per nine (7.77).
- Jonathan Joseph pitched the ninth. In his last four outings, he has allowed one run in eight-and-a-third innings (1.08), with three hits and three walks, while striking out 12. Jonathan, whose first promotion to Double-A came (this season) at age 26, has a 3.05 ERA.
Rotation for Tulsa Series
Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. - RockHounds RHP Chris Jensen (4-3, 5.08) at Tulsa RHP Chris Anderson (4-4, 3.38)
Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. - RockHounds RHP Nate Long (3-3, 2.81) at Tulsa RHP Jeremy Kerht (3-4, 3.51)
Thursday at 7:05 p.m. - RockHounds RHP Tim Atherton (2-2, 5.46) at Tulsa RHP Mickey Storey (0-1, 6.00)
Images from this story
 Colin Walsh of the Midland RockHounds (Saydee Bailey) |
Texas League Stories from June 1, 2015
- Missions Sweep Twin Bill from Nats - San Antonio Missions
- 'Hounds Get Hazelbaker-Ed on a Sunday Afternoon - Midland RockHounds
- Blair Named Texas League Player of the Week - Midland RockHounds
- Texas Rangers to Promote Frisco's Joey Gallo to Big Leagues - Frisco RoughRiders
- San Antonio's Justin Hancock Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for May 25-31 - San Antonio Missions
- 'Hounds Get Hazelbaker-ed on a Sunday Afternoon - Midland RockHounds
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