Hounds Win Fourth Straight, Sweep Frisco
Published on July 1, 2019 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
When the RockHounds opened their four-game series last Thursday in Frisco, Taylor Motter hadn't officially joined the club. Without him, the 'Hounds would not have completed a four-game sweep of the RoughRiders.
The former Major Leaguer launched (and we do mean "launched") a solo home run in the top of the eighth to complete a 3-for-3 night at the plate. The blast gave the RockHounds a 5-2 lead and would turn out to be the decisive run as the 'Hounds held off the Riders, 5-4, Sunday evening at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
The RockHounds never trailed but couldn't put Frisco away until the final out was recorded.
Edwin Diaz ripped a two-run line drive home run to left field in the second (scoring Motter, who had singled to open the inning) but the RoughRiders manufactured single runs in the second and third to tie the game at 2-2.
Tyler Ramirez tripled to left to open the fourth and scored on Nate Mondou's sacrifice fly, giving the 'Hounds a 3-2 lead, and Motter's RBI double scored Ramirez (one-out single) in the sixth pushed the lead to 4-2.
Motter then won a battle of former Major Leaguers, sending Matt Bush's 3-2 pitch out of the year in the top of the eighth (Motter has 141 games in The Show and Bush 136).
Frisco made one last push, scoring twice in the ninth against John Gorman. Leody Taveras keyed the rally, driving in a run with a triple to center and scoring on Charles Leblanc's sac fly (second out) to bring the Riders within a run. Gorman then got Michael DeLeon to ground out to end the game.
The victory gave the RockHounds a sweep of the four-game series and a 7-3 start to the second half.
Texas League South
Amarillo ripped Corpus Christi, 11-6, their third straight after dropping the opener of the series in the Panhandle.
The RockHounds are 7-3 ... the Hooks and Sod Poodles are both 3-6 ... and the RoughRiders are 2-7 in the second half race.
Texas League Schedule ... The Crazy Calculations of Johns Hopkins University
All four of Sunday's matchups were the LAST meetings of the regular season between the clubs:
Tulsa-Arkansas ... NW Arkansas-Springfield ... Corpus Christi-Amarillo ... RockHounds-Frisco.
That's a stunning bit of scheduling. Each Texas League team has a division opponent they will have played at least 26 times so far ... but not ONCE the rest of the season. To put it another way, every Texas League team will face just two division rivals over the last two months of the season.
Notable
In his first three games with the RockHounds (Oakland signed him from New Britain of the independent Atlantic League) Taylor Motter went 6-for-11 (and reached base in 8-of-13 plate appearances) ... with three runs, a double, two home runs, and three runs batted in. Taylor's Major League career includes Tampa Bay (2016), Seattle (2017-18) and Minnesota (2018).
Edwin Diaz homered in each of the last three games of the series and has now hit safely in 13-of-his-last-15 games (17-55, .309) with 11 runs, two doubles, five home runs, and 16 RBI.
In the last two games of the series, Tyler Ramirez went 5-for-10, with two runs, one triple, three RBI and a stolen base.
After trailing most the season, the RockHounds won the season with Frisco, 14-12, splitting 12 games at Security Bank Ballpark and going 8-6 at Dr Pepper Ballpark. As mentioned, above, the clubs do not meet again this season.
Next Game
Monday, July 1 vs. Amarillo Sod Poodles
Security Bank Ballpark 6:30 p.m. (Gates open 6:00)
Two-Dollar Monday
- First of a three-game series and homestand
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:15 p.m.
Probable Starters
AMA: Emmanuel Ramirez (RH, 6-4, 3.72)
RH: Kyle Friedrichs (RH, 1-2, 4.50)
The RockHounds are home for a quick, but terrific, three-game homestand July 1-2-3
Postgame fireworks July 2nd & 3rd!
Texas League Stories from July 1, 2019
- Drillers Edge Cardinals Late, 6-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Bailey & Collado Corral Riders - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders Strike out 14 in 3-1 Loss - Frisco RoughRiders
- Landon and McKinstry Homer in Drillers Victory over Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Drop Series Opener to Travelers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- McCaughan Stifles Naturals in Series Opening Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Soddies Fall on Quiet Night for Bats - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Rondon Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Springfield Cardinals
- Celebrate July Fourth Weekend with Fireworks, Giveaways - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travelers Series Highlights & 4th at the Field on Thursday, July 4th - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Celebrate July Fourth Weekend with Fireworks, Giveaways - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hunter Pence Scheduled to Rehab with Riders Tonight - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hounds Win Fourth Straight, Sweep Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- Bats Erupt for 15 Runs, Hounds Beat Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- Rondon Strikes out 10 as Cardinals Top Naturals, 3-1 - Springfield Cardinals
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