Just as It Was in Eighth Grade
Published on July 9, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
... when writing an essay, and struggling for content, "steal somebody else's work." In the press box following Arkansas' 10-inning (3-2) win over the RockHounds at Dickey-Stephens Park, Travelers Radio Voice Robbie Aaron put it perfectly, saying "what a quirky game." Evidence:
- The Travelers scored twice in the first inning and not again until the game-winning run in the 10th. Arkansas, in fact, had four hits in the first two innings and a total of two hits the rest of the game.
- The RockHounds did not have a run ... or a hit ... until the seventh. Renato Nuñez erased both goose eggs with a tremendous solo home run in the seventh off ...
- Kyle McGowin, who entered the game with a 7.80 earned run average in his first three starts against the RockHounds (and a 5.76 ERA for the season). The right-hander went two outs into the eighth, allowing one hit (the Nuñez home run), walking three and striking out seven.
- Both clubs lost a player due to "footing."
RockHounds right fielder Josh Whitaker, in pursuit of Sherman Johnson's flair down the right field line leading off the last of the first, lost his footing when moving from the outfield grass to the warning track. Josh left a four-to-five foot "skid mark" and stayed down for several minutes. He would stay in the game initially before coming out in the last of the fourth.
Arkansas' Wade Hinkle, who homered in the first inning, hit the deck while converging with two other players on a pop up in in 10th. He suffered what appeared to be a cut under his right eye and left the game.
- Both of the players who replaced Whitaker and Hinkle had a major role in the game's outcome.
Matt Angle, who replaced Whitaker in right field, entered the game with a 25-game on-base streak and would get only two chances to extend the streak. After narrowly missing an extra-base hit down the right field line in the sixth, Angle led off the top of the ninth with a double to left-center. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the game-tying run on Chad Pinder's single up the middle.
Blake Gailen took Hinkle's spot in the Travelers' order and came to the plate in the 10th against reliever Ryan Dull, who entered the game with a 0.24 ERA, having allowed one run in 27 appearances. Gailen tripled to the left-center field on the ninth pitch of an at bat in which he initially fell behind, 0-2, and scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly from Michael Snyder.
The RockHounds
... are 9-4 in the second half and 44-39 overall ... lost for the third time in 10 extra-inning games ... have won 9-of-their-last-12 ... are 4-6 against Arkansas (2-4 at home and 2-2 on the road) ...are 26-16 at Security Bank Ballpark and 18-23 on the road ... are 27-25 vs. the South Division and 17-14 vs. the North ... lead Frisco (6-6) by two-and-a-half games, San Antonio (5-7) by three-and-a-half and Corpus Christi (5-8) by four games.
Kibbles & Bits
- Matt Angle's ninth-inning double (see above) extended his on-base streak to 25 games (.278 with a .414 OBP). Matt's streak is the third-longest in the Texas League this season, trailing only San Antonio's Travis Jankowski (27 games) and Trea Turner (29).
- Renato Nuñez (1-for-4, solo home run) has hit in 13-of-14 games (.354) and is now tied for fourth in the Texas League in home runs (12).
- Personnel: (Infielder) Ryon Healy and (pitcher) Tim Atherton have been placed on the disabled list and (pitcher) Bobby Wahl has been activated from the DL. Veteran right-hander Parker Frazier will take Atherton's spot in the rotation Friday night.
Texas League Stories from July 9, 2015
- Cards Hold off Missions to Even Series - San Antonio Missions
- Cards Even Series with 14-Hit Attack - San Antonio Missions
- Thursday's RoughRiders-Naturals Game Cancelled - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Game on Thursday, July 9 against Frisco Cancelled - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Just as It Was in Eighth Grade - Midland RockHounds
- Game 1 of Friday's Doubleheader against Frisco Will Start at 5:05 p.m. - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Walk off on McGowin's Special Night - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers in High Cotton - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Missions Edge Cardinals, 2-0, in Road Trip Opener - Springfield Cardinals
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