Junior Mince
Published on September 6, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Through six innings Saturday night, the "lead story" for the RockHounds was the performance of starting pitcher Junior Mendez, backed by Colin Walsh's inning-ending, run-saving play in the last of the first inning. The "storyline" changed ... drastically ... in the seventh.
The 'Hounds scored six times in the stretch inning and eleven times in the ninth, en route to a 21-4 win over the RoughRiders at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco. A full recap would take the rest of the holiday weekend (Thanksgiving, that is), but here are some of the highlights:
- Frisco led, 3-0, going into the third inning, and the RockHounds led by just a 4-3 margin entering the seventh.
- The 'Hounds scored in just three innings, batting around in the third (four runs), seventh (six runs) and the ninth (11 runs).
- In the seventh and ninth inning rallies, combined, the 'Hounds scored 17 runs on 17 hits.
- The 21 runs on 24 hits are not a season high for the 'Hounds (see "Stat of the Day," below).
- In the ninth ... the RockHounds sent 17 batters to the plate ... each of the first ten reached base and scored.
- For the game ... every RockHounds batter scored at least one run and seven had at least one RBI.
- Renato Nuñez drove in six runs ... five in the ninth inning ... including a grand slam home run in the 11-run ninth. Nunez also had a five-hit game (5-for-7), just the fifth in the Texas League this season and all five by RockHounds (Ryon Healy has three and Jaycob Brugman one).
- Josh Whitaker had four hits and five RBI (a three-run home run to cap the six-run seventh inning and a two-run double in the ninth) and narrowly missed a grand slam of his own in the third, sending a drive to the wall in left-center with the bases full to end the inning.
- The win added another milestone to the club's remarkable season (see "Historically Speaking," below).
The RockHounds
... are 46-22 in the second half and 81-57 overall (matching their season-high at 24 games over .500) ... are 3-2 through the first five games of their (seven-game) road trip to conclude the regular season (with Sunday and Monday games remaining at Frisco) ... lead the season series with Frisco, 18-8, finishing 11-3 at home and now 7-5 at Dr Pepper Ballpark ... are 35-15 in their last 50 games (a .700 winning percentage dating back to mid-July and the beginning of a 26 games in 26 days portion of the schedule) ... finished 45-25 at Security Bank Ballpark (the league's best home record) ... are 36-32 on the road (matching a season-high) ... are 52-38 vs. the South Division and 29-19 vs. the North.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY: The RockHounds' offensive uprising fell just short of the club's season high, set (ironically enough) against Frisco. On May 9, at Security Bank Ballpark, the 'Hounds defeated the RoughRiders, 23-8, on 25 hits.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The RockHounds have clinched the best half-season in franchise history and the second-best overall record in the franchise's 44 years ... and have become the second club in the franchise's 44 years to win 80 games in a season.
While the 1975 Cubs' winning percentage (81-53, .604) is out of reach, Saturday's win matched the franchise's all-time record for wins in a season at 81 (with two games remaining in the regular season).
- Anthony Aliotti has a 13-game hit streak (18-55, .327) and has reached base in 21 straight (29-for-90, .322) with 19 RBI in his last 20 games.
- Junior Mendez, called up from the Beloit Snappers of the (Single-A) Midwest League to make Saturday's start, gave the club just what it needed as it prepares for the Texas League South Division Championship Series. The right-hander, backed up by four relievers, went five innings, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks with one strikeout and earned a win in his first appearance above the "low A" level.
Texas League Stories from September 6, 2015
- Rodriguez Ends Career with a Hit in Front of 11,813 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Big Fifth Inning Powers Hooks to 9-2 Win over Missions - San Antonio Missions
- RoughRiders Welcome Fifth-Largest Crowd in Franchise History Sunday Evening at Dr Pepper Ballpark - Frisco RoughRiders
- McGowin Twirls Gem in Significant Start - Arkansas Travelers
- McGowin, Travelers Stymie Naturals to Force Rubber Match - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Junior Mince - Midland RockHounds
- Big Innings Send Midland over RoughRiders - Frisco RoughRiders
- De La Rosa Delivers SA Win - Corpus Christi Hooks
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