Lightning Strikes Twice
Published on July 23, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
In the top of the fifth inning, on the first pitch thrown by one of the Texas League's best relievers, Tyler Marincov silenced a crowd of more than 5,000 fans at Nelson Wolff Stadium with a solo home run to left field.
In the last of the 10th inning, on the first pitch thrown by one of the Texas League's best relievers, Gabriel Quintana sent that same crowd of more than 5,000 into delirium ... and home from Nelson Wolff Stadium happy ... with a solo home run to left field.
Quintana led off the last of the 10th with a solo home run off the RockHounds' Bobby Wahl, giving the San Antonio Missions a 3-2 win and evening the four-game series at "the Wolff" at a game apiece.
The contest was a case of "role reversal" from Thursday night, when the 'Hounds erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run seventh inning rally for a 4-2 win. On Friday, it was the Missions who trailed, 2-0, entering the seventh, when a swinging bunt started the home team's comeback.
Jose Rondon's dribbler up the third base line for a single opened the inning, but 'Hounds reliever Sam Bragg came right back to strike out Nick Torres and Nick Schulz before a critical wild pitch pushed Rondon to second. Quintana sent a chopper to shortstop, with Yairo Munoz's throw a step late. Rondon never stopped on the play and scored from second base, with the throw home from first baseman Viosergy Rosa going wide and out of play, moving Quintana to third. Luis Tejada then tied the game on a terrific at bat. He quickly fell behind, 0-2, but fouled off four, two-strike pitches before sending a flair single to right-center (scoring Quintana).
The RockHounds took the lead in the third when Brett Vertigan walked and J.P. Sportman followed with an RBI double just inside the third base bag and down the line in left. Marincov made the score 2-0 on his solo home run in the fifth off the Missions' Kyle McGrath. The home run was Marincov's eighth with the RockHounds and 17th of the season overall (he had nine with the Stockton Ports prior to his call-up to Double-A).
The RockHounds
... are 19-9 in the second half and 52-46 overall ... have won nine of their last 13 ... are 28-23 at Security Bank Ballpark and 24-23 on the road ... are 13-13 in the season series with the Missions (8-5 at Security Bank Ballpark and 5-8 at Nelson Wolff Stadium) ... are 31-31 vs. the South.
... saw their lead over San Antonio and Corpus Christi (both 13-15) slip to six games, with Frisco (12-16) remaining seven games back.
... continue their four-game series with the Missions in San Antonio with games on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and on Sunday at 6:05 p.m. The club is in a stretch in which it plays 11 of 14 games on the road. The only exception is next Monday-Wednesday (July 25-27), at home versus Frisco.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT of the DAY: Baseball can sure be a cruel game. On one pitch, Bobby Wahl gave up a run for the first time in 16 appearances and 15.2 innings. The right-hander's ERA in his last 16 trips to the hill is 0.57 and his string of seven consecutive saves remains intact.
- In his last five appearances (two starts), Ben Bracewell has posted a 1.17 ERA.
- Brett Vertigan has reached base in 10 consecutive games, hitting .394 (13-for-33) with a .500 OBP (six walks, one HBP).
- J.P. Sportman has hit in five of his last six games (7-for-23, .304), 12 of 14 games (22-for-60, .367) and is hitting .324 in his last 27 games.
- Yairo Munoz went 0-for-4 (he was flat robbed on Nick Torres' diving catch in left-center in the fourth) and saw a nine-game hitting streak end. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Texas League Stories from July 23, 2016
- Missions Walk off 'Hounds Again - San Antonio Missions
- Missions Walk off 'Hounds Again - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Lose Despite Bonilla's Gem - Tulsa Drillers
- DeJong and Cards Power Past Naturals, 3-1, in 10 Innings - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Fall in Extras, Look to Win Series Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Lightning Strikes Twice - Midland RockHounds
- Travs & Drillers Split Another DSP Doubleheader - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Split Doubleheader in Arkansas - Tulsa Drillers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
