If There Was a Better Ballgame
June 11, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
... played Wednesday night, anywhere in Minor League Baseball, it must have been a heckuva game.
The Corpus Christi Hooks, moving closer to a Texas League South Division first half title, led the RockHounds, 8-0, after the top of the fourth inning. The 'Hounds scored the next seven, drawing to within one run in the fifth, and knocking at the door in each inning the rest of the way.
After scoring an unearned run in the top of the first, Corpus Christi put five runs on the board in the second, highlighted by Roberto Pena's two-run double. When the Hooks added two more in the top of the fourth, pushing the lead to 8-0, the outcome seemed to be in little doubt.
The RockHounds then broke through on their first hit of the game, a solo home run by Josh Whitaker, in the fourth. Back-to-back two-out doubles by Renato Nuî=B1ez and Ryon Healy made the score 8-2 after four. As the Hooks had done in the second, the RockHounds scored five times in the fifth. Walks by Matt Angle and Chad Oberacker, sandwiched around a single from Wade Kirkland, loaded the bases, and Colin Walsh singled to center, chasing Hooks starter Michael Feliz.
On an 0-2 pitch from reliever Travis Ballew, Whitaker narrowly missed a grand slam, his towering drive to left coming down at the base of the wall for a double, clearing the bases and bringing the 'Hounds to within 8-5. Matt Olson sent a line drive double to right, scoring Whitaker, closing the gap to 8-7. After a walk to Nuî=B1ez, Ballew's night was also over (very uncharacteristically for one of the league's top relievers).
The "piggy-back" starter system employed by Houston Astros affiliates then played a huge role, as Chris Devensky came out of the bullpen. The league's leading pitcher (with a 6-0 record and a 0.71 ERA), Devensky threw a wild pitch, putting runners at second and third with no outs, but got the next three batters, escaping the inning with the Hooks' lead at 8-7. The RockHounds had at least one runner in scoring position against the outstanding right-hander in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but could not product the tying run.
Against closer Jandel Gustave in the ninth, Healy narrowly (as in "by inches," quite probably thanks to a 20-mile-per-hour wind) missed a game-tying home run, as Jon Kemmer hauled in his drive at the left field bullpen fence. With two out and the bases empty, the 'Hounds got a line drive single to left-center from Bruce Maxwell, and Angle's great speed narrowly beat a throw from second baseman Tony Kemp (on a bobbled ball). Pinch hitter Jaycob Brugman's infield single (on a deflection by Gustave, a terrific effort by Kemp and Brugman's hustle down the line) loaded the bases, but first baseman Conrad Gregory smothered Oberacker's sharp grounder, and got to the bag for the final out.
The RockHounds
... are now 29-29 for the season (after reaching a season-best five games over .500 at 29-24) ... have dropped five straight ... are 5-9 versus the Hooks (3-3 at Security Bank Ballpark and 2-6 at Whataburger Field in Corpus) ... are 18-12 at Security Bank Ballpark and 11-17 on the road ... are 17-17 in South Division play and finished first half cross-division with a 12-12 record versus the North.
Corpus Christi could depart West Texas with the Texas League South Division first half pennant "packed away" in their luggage - - - the Hooks' "magic number" to clinch is three (and combination of Hooks wins and RockHounds losses). One more win in the series would clinch a tie and a sweep would end the race. The Hooks have already eliminated Frisco from the race and their magic number over San Antonio is one.
Texas League Stories from June 11, 2015
- Five Run Third and Farrell Propel Naturals to 7-3 Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Friday's Riders' Full House Night Completely Sold Out - Frisco RoughRiders
- June's Jammin' Second Half - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders Welcome Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation to Dr Pepper Ballpark - Frisco RoughRiders
- Riders to Host Second MVP Student Program Night - Frisco RoughRiders
- Arkansas Drops Fourth Straight on Wednesday - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Weather West Texas Storm - Corpus Christi Hooks
- If There Was a Better Ballgame - Midland RockHounds
- Cardinals Make It Five Straight Wins with 6-5 Victory in Arkansas - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Lose Shootout in Springdale 11-10 - Tulsa Drillers
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