Just Another Day at the Beach
July 22, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Chad Pinder and Renato Nunez of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
On the second pitch of Tuesday night's game in Corpus Christi, Chad Oberacker sent a 400-foot drive to straightaway center field, only to see Brett Phillips make a tremendous over-the-shoulder catch, robbing the RockHounds leadoff batter of an extra-base hit. The grab also saved a run because the next four RockHounds would each hit safely, including a three-run home run from Renato Nuñez. Phillips' catch was outstanding, but the "bats" would dominate the game ... at least over the first five innings ... in a 9-7 RockHounds win at Whataburger Field.
The Hooks answered Nuñez's home run with a two-run blast in the home half of the first off the bat of Colin Moran (see below). Corpus Christi tied the game in the second and took a 6-3 advantage with three unearned runs (on a pair of two-out errors by the 'Hounds) in the third.
A two-run fourth brought the RockHounds back to within 6-5 and after the Hooks rebuilt the lead to 7-5 in the home half of the inning, the 'Hounds scored three in the fifth on a single, an unusual sacrifice fly (see below) and a wild pitch for an 8-7 lead. Chad Pinder's solo home run capped the scoring in the top of the sixth and relievers Omar Duran, Seth Frankoff and Tucker Healy made the two-run advantage hold up.
The win was the RockHounds' second straight in the (four-game) series, which concludes Thursday night in Corpus Christi.
The RockHounds
... are 16-9 in the second half and 51-44 overall (matching a season-best seven games over .500) ... have won two-in-a-row and 7-of-10 ... are 7-12 in the season series with Corpus Christi (4-7 at Whataburger Field and 3-5 at home) ... have clinched no worse than a split of the current (four-game) series ... are 29-17 at Security Bank Ballpark and 22-27 on the road ... are 32-27 vs. the South Division and 19-17 vs. the North.
- Texas League South: The RockHounds remain a half-game ahead of Frisco (15-9), after the RoughRiders' 4-1 win at San Antonio (all five runs came in the first inning). The 'Hounds lead first half champ Corpus Christi (12-13) by four games and San Antonio (10-15) by six.
Kibbles & Bits
- No matter how good you are, this game can keep you humble. Hooks starter Chris Devensky came into the game with a 7-2 record and a 1.92 ERA, allowing 18 runs on 65 hits in 84.1 innings. He gave up eight runs (44% of his season total) on 12 hits (19%) in 4.1 innings, with his ERA bumping up seven-tenths of a point (to 2.62).
- In his first 52 games, Corpus Christi's Colin Moran had one home run in 203 at-bats. He then homered in back-to-back AB's - - - Monday in the ninth (the first allowed by Ryan Dull this season) and Tuesday in the first (off Chris Jensen).
- Chad Oberacker's night began as the victim of thievery (see above), but ended 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. Both RBI's came on sacrifice flies to left field ... both in foul territory .... and in back-to-back innings.
- Halfway through the game (top of the fifth), the clubs had combined for 15 runs on 22 hits. They combined for one run on three hits over the last four-and-a-half innings (the run coming on Chad Pinder's solo home run in the sixth).
- Relievers Omar Duran, Seth Frankoff and Tucker Healy combined to pitch 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks with four strikeouts. In the first three games of the series, the RockHounds bullpen has pitched 13.2 innings, giving up two runs (earned) on six hits and six walks, with 13 strikeouts (a 1.32 ERA).
- Chad Pinder went 4-for-5 with a solo home run, extending his hit streak to 15 games. Chad is hitting .385 (25-for-65) in the 15-gamer and has climbed to third in the Texas League with a .313 season average. He also ranks second in the TL with 55 RBI.
- Colin Walsh (1-for-3, two walks, two runs, stolen base, strikeout) has hit in 10 straight games (16-for-38, .421) and ranks sixth in the league with a .298 average. Colin ranks among the TL's best in 10 categories and leads the league in OBP (.428), doubles (27) and extra-base hits (39).
Images from this story
 Chad Pinder and Renato Nunez of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
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Texas League Stories from July 22, 2015
- Riders Battle Back to Take Series over Missions - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks Salvage Series Split - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Frisco Takes Series with Five-Run Comeback - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Lose Series Finale to Naturals - Tulsa Drillers
- Balanced Offense Propels Naturals in Series Finale - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Peyton Meyer, Kids Jersey Day Highlights Riders July 23-29 Home Stand - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Return to ONEOK Field Thursday - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Partner with Toys for Tots on Thursday, July 30 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Just Another Day at the Beach - Midland RockHounds
- Garcia Stays Red Hot in Cards Comeback Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks, 'Hounds: Hard-Hitting Hardball - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals Rally in 9th for the 6-5 Comeback Win - Springfield Cardinals
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