John Donne & the 500-Pound Gorilla
June 13, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Pitcher Jonathan Joseph
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
n his first Double-A start, Jonathan Joseph struck out six in five innings of work and allowed just one run, but the RockHounds were blanked 4-0 in Saturday's series opener against the Frisco RoughRiders at Security Bank Ballpark. (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
Somewhere around 1600, English poet John Donne penned the beautiful line, "Therefore, send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee." Hey, John, you left out one word - - - Chad. As in Chad Bell.
The Frisco left-hander went seven shutout innings as the RoughRiders won the opener of a four-game series, 4-0, Saturday at Security Bank Ballpark. Nomar Mazara backed the performance with a solo home run and two RBI, as Bell combined with two relievers on a two-hitter.
It may not be proper journalism to put an English cleric, such as Mr. Donne, in the same headline with a half-ton primate, but that 500-pound gorilla in the RockHounds' dugout comes in the form of an eight-game losing streak. Since sweeping the Tulsa Drillers in the first three games of the last road trip (June 2-4), the 'Hounds had been swept (3-0) at Springfield and at home (4-0) by the first half champion Corpus Christi Hooks before dropping the opener of the set with Frisco.
Bell entered the game with a 1-7 record and a 5.01 ERA, but his peripheral numbers were very good (about one hit per inning and a nearly four-to-one strikeouts-to-walks ratio). The lefty had two men on with one out in the second, but a 4-6-3 ended the threat and Bell largely cruised through the next five innings.
Mazara has been as hot ... and as productive ... as any hitter in the league over the last six games. The 20-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has hit in six straight games, belting three home runs and driving in a dozen runs in that stretch. Nomar entered the season rated the Texas Rangers' #5 prospect by Baseball America and #3 by MLB.com.
While the RockHounds (29-32) are now entertaining the aforementioned gorilla, the RoughRiders (27-34) won their fourth straight game.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Pitcher Jonathan Joseph (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
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Texas League Stories from June 13, 2015
- Drillers Edge Cardinals in 11-Inning Battle, 8-7 - Springfield Cardinals
- John Donne & the 500-Pound Gorilla - Midland RockHounds
- SA Shackles Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Rea's Return Helps San Antonio Extend Home Win Streak - San Antonio Missions
- Mazara, Bell Lead Riders Past RockHounds - Frisco RoughRiders
- Adams Powers Naturals to Comeback Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Defeat Travelers Before Sellout Crowd - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Meet Louie at the AT&T Store Today and Make Dreams Come True - Springfield Cardinals
- Hook(S), Line & Sinker Champagne Corks - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Score 14 in 58 Minute Fifth Inning - Arkansas Travelers
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