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Midland RockHounds

Howard Strikes out Nine in Loss to Travs

June 22, 2019 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


The game was closer than the final score would indicate but the Arkansas Travelers (playing as the Diamantes de Arkansas on Copa night) gave a solid demonstration of why they have the Texas League's top record, defeating the RockHounds (Matamoscas de Midessa), 4-1, Friday night at Security Bank Ballpark.

The RockHounds held a 1-0 lead with one out in the seventh thanks to a brilliant pitching performance from Brian Howard, who had scattered four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks through six innings. He whiffed Logan Taylor, for strikeout # 9, to open the seventh before yielding singles to the last two batters he would face (Kyle Lewis and Jordan Cowan). Cody Stull relieved Howard and Nick Zammarelli greeted the RockHounds' lefty with a line drive RBI single to right to tie the game. Joseph Odom followed with an RBI single to left field and the Travelers took a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Arkansas added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth on Cowan's leadoff single ... a sacrifice bunt compounded by a throwing error by catch Collin Theroux ... and Mike Ahmed's two-run double, a line drive just inside the bag at third that narrowly eluding a diving effort from third baseman Edwin Diaz.

Arkansas' pitching has been, by a wide margin, the best in the league in 2019. After allowing six runs on 10 hits Thursday night, the Travs were back to business Friday. Andrew Moore went the first six, allowing one run on six hits (two walks and five strikeouts). With two out in the second, Kevin Merrell tripled to deep left on a ball pushed by a strong wind (the entire game was played in wind of more than 20 mph). Theroux then drove a double of nearly 400 feet through the wind to just left of the batter's eye, bringing Merrell home.

After Arkansas took the lead in the seventh, Nabil Crismatt (see below) and Art Warren pitched three perfect innings to close the game. Crismatt set down six in-a-row, striking out two and Warren earned his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth that included two punchouts.

Arkansas, first half champions in the North Division, won its fourth straight to open the second half, including the first two games of this four-game set (the Travs are 3-2 against the RockHounds overall).

Texas League Wrap

The Texas League South second half standings are now just as tight as they were over the last two weeks of the first half pennant race. Corpus Christi, Frisco and the RockHounds are all 2-2 and (first half champion) Amarillo is 1-3.

The Hooks made it two-in-a-row over Springfield (3-0 at Corpus) ... Frisco has rebounded from a 10-21 stretch to win two straight at Northwest Arkansas (6-4 Friday night) and the Sod Poodles picked up their first win of the second half, holding off the Drillers, 4-3, at Tulsa.

Notables

Luis Barrera (2-for-4, stolen base) continued his remarkable month of June (he's hitting .420 for the month), extending his on-base streak to 22 games (39-95, .411). He has hits in 16-of-his-last-17 games (31-77, .403) with 13 runs, one double, six triples and five RBI.

Barrera would have had a three-hit night had it not been for Arkansas second baseman Jordan Cowan, who robbed Luis in the eighth. Cowan ranged to his right, made a midair pivot and across-the-body throw to get the out on a (brilliant) bang-bang play. Cowan, who had a big game overall, also robbed Nate Mondou on a very similar play in the fifth. He finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored after both hits (including the eventual game-winner in the seventh).

He took the loss, but Brian Howard returned to form Friday night, allowing two runs on six hits, with no walks and nine strikeouts in 61/3 innings. Brian posted a 1.73 ERA in April (five starts) and 3.03 in May (six) but had a 6.34 mark in his three starts this month. Despite that mini-slump (and it's a great indicator of just how good he has been), Brian entered Friday's game ranked third in the Texas League with a 3.33 ERA (he remains third in the TL, now at 3.30). The nine strikeouts are a season (and Double-A career) high, one shy of his overall career best (he whiffed 10 batters twice last year with the Stockton Ports).

It must be nice to be able to turn to the league's top pitcher "just to get some work in" ... and protect a 2-1 lead. With the All-Star break coming Monday, Nabil Crismatt (2.52 ERA) was called on to make his first relief appearance of the season. He worked the seventh and eighth, facing and retiring six batters, lowering his league-leading ERA to 2.44.

The league's # 2 pitcher, Darren McCaughan (6-3, 2.60), is the Travs' Saturday starter.

Kevin Merrell (1-for-3, triple, run) has hits in 10-of-his-last-12 games (18-47, .383) with nine runs, two doubles, two triples and five RBI. He now has a triple in back-to-back games.

Edwin Diaz (1-for-4) has hits in 9-of-his-last-10 games (13-37, .351) with seven runs, two doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.

Dairon Blanco (0-for-4) saw his eight-game his streak come to an end (11-38, .289 in his last nine).

Next Game

Saturday, June 22 vs. Arkansas Travelers

Security Bank Ballpark 7:00 p.m. (Gates open 6:00)

Postgame Fireworks

- Third of a four-game series and a sixth of a seven-game homestand

- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:47 p.m.

Probable Starters

ARK: Darren McCaughan (RH, 6-3, 2.60)

RH: Kyle Friedrichs (RH, 1-3, 4.42)

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics

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