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Midland RockHounds

'Hounds Rally from Seven Down for Epic 10-9 Win

June 3, 2017 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


Last Friday night (May 26) at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas ...

The RockHounds erupted for a seven-run seventh inning to take a 10-6 lead

Northwest Arkansas cut the lead to 10-8 with a rally in the eighth

The Naturals then scored three in the last of the ninth, winning the game on a walk-off hit to right-center

Friday night (June 2) at Security Bank Ballpark ..

Northwest Arkansas scored nine runs in two innings (the fifth and sixth) for a 9-2 lead

The RockHounds rallied back with five in the seventh, cutting the lead to 9-7

The 'Hounds then scored three in the last of the ninth, winning the game on a walk-off hit to left-center

The RockHounds scored twice in the first on Viosergy Rosa 's two-run single, but Naturals starter Emilio Ogando pitched shutout ball through his next five innings for his second consecutive quality start against the 'Hounds.

With concerns that weather might interrupt the game in the early going, the RockHounds opened with reliever Carlos Navas on the mound. Scheduled starter Brett Graves entered and, after a scoreless fourth inning, was roughed up for five runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth, with the Naturals batting around in both frames to take a 9-2 lead.

The RockHounds then sent 10 men to the plate in the seventh, scoring five times, with Kenny Wilson 's single driving in two and RBI doubles from Jordan Tarsovich and Yairo Munoz and a single from Tyler Marincov .

The RockHounds still trailed, 9-7, with the bases empty and two out in the ninth, with reliever Jake Newberry (who entered the game with seven saves and a 1.42 ERA) ahead of Marincov on a 1-2 count. From there, the 'Hounds rallied back on four consecutive clutch swings.

Marincov, after fouling off a pair of two-strike pitches, singled up the middle and scored when Rosa's fly ball eluded left fielder Elier Hernandez, dropping for a double. J.P. Sportman followed, ripping a game-tying double to left-center to score pinch runner B.J. Boyd . Brett Vertigan then sent Newberry's 2-2 pitch into left-center, bringing Sportman home with game-winning run.

Vertigan's walk-off heroics extended some "personal business" and there was good news from two other Texas League yards.

Quick Notes:

The RockHounds (28-26) have dropped five of their last seven ... evened their mark in the homestand at 2-2 ... won for the first time in four games against NW Arkansas (the Naturals swept last weekend's three-game series in Springdale) ... are 9-13 against the North Division (19-13 against the South) ... and are 14-4 in their last 18 home games.

The dramatic win was made all the more significant as San Antonio was shut out at Springfield, bringing the 'Hounds to within two games of the first-place Missions. The clubs meet next Tuesday through Friday at Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio. Tulsa, for the second straight night, aided the 'Hounds' cause with a ninth-inning rally at ONEOK Field. On Thursday, the Drillers tied San Antonio in the ninth and won in extra innings. On Friday, they walked off, 5-4, over the Corpus Christi Hooks in the ninth, boosting the RockHounds one game ahead of the Hooks in the South Division.

There are 16 games remaining in the first half pennant race.

For the second time in three nights, the RockHounds and their opponents combined for more than 30 hits (32).

Brett Graves' pitching line from Friday night is, in a word, rough. What doesn't show is that, with the bullpen down to six arms, Graves had to pitch multiple innings, regardless of the outcome. After giving up the nine runs, he came back with two scoreless innings in the seventh and the eighth, striking out five of the last six batters he faced. There is no "stat" for perseverance, but perhaps there should be.

Brett Vertigan's walk-off single also extended his on-base streak to 19 straight games (22-for-72, .306), he has reached in 39 of his last 41 games (.294) and in 45 of 49 overall. The game-winning hit also extended his hitting streak to eight games (11-for-36, .306).

Yairo Muî=B1oz (2-for-5, two runs, double, RBI) has hits in five straight games (11-for-23, .478) with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI. After a slow start out of extended spring training (he was hitting .186 on May 15), Munoz has now hit in 12 of 13 games (21-for-57, .368) and has reached base in 15 of 16 games (.347 AVG, with 18 runs with seven doubles, two triples, four home runs and 17 RBI).

Tyler Marincov (3-for-5, two runs, double, RBI) has hits in five straight games (8-for-21, .381) and has a 12-game on-base streak (15-for-47, .319). Marincov also has 30 RBI in his last 31 games.

J.P. Sportman (2-for-4, two runs, double, RBI, walk) has busted out of an 8-for-42 stretch by hitting in three straight games (6-for-11, with three runs, a double, a home run, three RBI and a walk).

Up Next:

The RockHounds and Naturals continue their three-game series at Security Bank Ballpark on Saturday night at 7:00, with fireworks following the game. The clubs then conclude the set Sunday afternoon at 2;00 p.m.

NW Arkansas' starter Saturday is Corey Ray (RH, 3-3, 4.86). The Texas native (born in Houston; lives in Spring) was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 2014 out of Texas A&M University.

Right-hander Ben Bracewell (1-1, 5.60) makes his 12th appearance (his sixth start) for the RockHounds. A key member of the 2016 Texas League championship club (8-3, 2.14 in 29 g / 10 gs), Bracewell was signed by Oakland as a minor league free agent in July 2014. Undrafted out of Mississippi State, he had begun his pro career with River City of the (independent) Frontier League.

Ray and Bracewell were the starts in the matchup at Arvest Ballpark on May 28, (no decisions for both) in the Naturals' 10-6 win.

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