'Hounds Haze Hooks
April 27, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Pitcher Daniel Mengden
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Mark Wagner)
It wasn't exactly "pea soup," but the RockHounds and Hooks played in high wind and a thick haze on Tuesday night in Corpus Christi. The gray backdrop, though, didn't affect the play as the 'Hounds captured a 2-0 win with both pitching staffs escaping multiple jams along the way.
The RockHounds manufactured an unearned run in the fourth and added an insurance run on Ryon Healy's solo home run in the eighth.
Starters Joe Musgrove (an 0.73 ERA entering the game) and Daniel Mengden (1.00 ERA) were as good as advertised, combining for 10 innings with just one (unearned) run. Musgrove allowed five hits and struck out seven without walking a batter, while Mengden tossed five scoreless innings on six hits and three walks, striking out eight (he has struck out eight batters in three of his four starts to open the season).
Matt Chapman and Viosergy Rosa opened the fourth with back-to-back singles. One out later, Musgrove knocked down Danny Oh's sharp comebacker and threw to second base (perhaps thinking inning-ending double play). Chapman broke for home and shortstop Mott Hyde's throw to the plate went high and wide. Healy ripped a line drive just over the left field wall in the eighth to provide an insurance run.
Trey Cochran-Gill pitched three scoreless innings (on just 35 pitches) and Andres Avila earned the save, closing the door in the ninth.
The RockHounds
... are 10-8 (5-1 at Security Bank Ballpark and 5-7 on the road) ... have won two in-a-row ... are 3-3 on the current (eight-game) road trip.
... are now second in the Texas League South, 3.5 games behind Frisco (13-4) and a half-game ahead of Corpus Christi.
... continue their eight-game road trip with games on Wednesday and Thursday at Corpus Christi versus the Hooks (7:05 p.m. each evening).
... return to Security Bank Ballpark this Friday (April 29) to open an eight-game home stand, facing division rivals San Antonio & Corpus Christi.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY # 1 From the time the RockHounds drew to within 7-6 in the top of the sixth inning Monday night until Ryon Healy's home made the score 2-0 ... the Hooks and 'Hounds played 16 consecutive innings in which they were tied or separated by one run.
STAT OF THE DAY # 2 When Daniel Mengden escaped Hooks scoring threats in each of the first two innings, he reversed (at least for this game) a nasty trend. In the last four games (the final three at San Antonio and Monday's series opener in Corpus Christi), the Missions and Hooks had put a combined 19 runs on the board in the first two innings of those games.
STAT OF THE DAY # 3 After scoring seven runs in the first two innings Monday, Corpus Christi has now been held scoreless for 21 consecutive innings (the Hooks squandered 13 base runners Tuesday, leaving 11 runners stranded plus a caught stealing and a double play).
STAT OF THE DAY # 4 Monday's 14-inning game lasted exactly four-and-a-half hours. Tuesday's first inning, in which 51 pitches were thrown as both clubs threatened, lasted 30 minutes, a pace of precisely (you got it) four-and-a-half hours. The next eight innings took just 2:06.
STAT OF THE DAY # 5 Matt Chapman's solo home run in the 14th was the game-winning swing Monday and his single led to the first run of the game (the eventual game winner) Tuesday. Both swings came on 0-2 pitches.
BEYOND THE GAME
The RockHounds join the entire Oakland Athletics organization in mourning the loss of Sean Murphy, who passed away Monday at the age of 27. Sean was a member of our clubs in 2013 and 2014 and was working to return to the diamond after missing the entire 2015 season following Tommy John surgery. From all of us with the RockHounds to Sean's family and friends, our condolences, thoughts and prayers.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Pitcher Daniel Mengden (Mark Wagner) |
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- Cardinals Blow Away Naturals, 8-1, on Wednesday Afternoon - Springfield Cardinals
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- Schwindel Homers Again in Naturals Loss at Springfield - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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- Riders Game Notes - 11:05 a.m. vs. San Antonio Missions - April 27, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- 'Hounds Haze Hooks - Midland RockHounds
- Kipper Nearly Perfect in Two-Hit Masterpiece - Arkansas Travelers
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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.
