Midland Answers with 4-0 Blanking
Published on April 6, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
North Little Rock, AR - One night after Dickey-Stephens Park saw its 70th shutout, the Midland RockHounds delivered the 71st in the ballpark's history in a 4-0 win over the Arkansas Travelers on Friday night. Four Hounds pitchers combined to toss a six-hitter adding nine strikeouts against just two walks. Midland left fielder Connor Crumbliss hit the first home run (1) of the year and scored twice. Traveler batters had chances to inflict damage, but left nine runners on base.
Johnny Hellweg (0-1) allowed Crumbliss's home run in the third inning and absorbed the loss in his Double-A debut. In five innings Hellweg only gave up two hits, but walked five and struck out five.
The Travs failed to score against Dan Straily over his 4.2 inning start, although they had a couple of shots at the Midland starter. Straily struck out Ryan Mount to end the first inning leaving Jean Segura at third base. Then after the Travs loaded the bases in the third with one out Straily whiffed Adam Heether and Mount again. Straily was pulled after his 93rd pitch which resulted in a fielding error by second baseman Tyler Ladendorf extending the fifth inning. Paul Smyth got Segura to bounce out ending the fifth.
Midland went to Bruce Billings for the sixth inning and the Travs promptly got singles from Heether and Mount. Renny Osuna went up to swing away and worked a 2-0 count before Billings battled back to strike him out. Billings then got Casey Haerther to ground out weekly and struck out Alberto Rosario. Billings settled in and retired eight of the last nine batters he faced earning the win in the process with three shutout innings pitched.
Hellweg threw 81 pitches to battle through his five innings, but left four runners, got a double play and had a runner caught stealing. Matt Oye came out of the bullpen first and fired two scoreless innings before tiring in the eighth allowing a single by Crumbliss and an RBI double from Michael Choice. Mike Piazza replaced Oye and struggled allowing a walk, a wild pitch and a two-run single off the bat of Josh Horton for a 4-0 Midland lead.
Jonathon Ortiz came on for Midland in the ninth and got two quick outs before Rosario hit a sharp single. Rian Kiniry nearly kept the inning alive with a sinking liner to center which was caught by a somersaulting Choice to end the game.
Time of game was 2:54 and the paid attendance was 6,069.
With the season-opening series even at one game apiece the Travs and RockHounds close out on Saturday night. Travs righty Ariel Pena (10-6, 4.39 ERA last year) takes the ball against Midland righty Sonny Gray, Oakland's first draft choice in 2011. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. and gates open at 5:00 p.m.
Texas League Stories from April 6, 2012
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- Game Notes, April 6 Vs. Nw Arkansas - Corpus Christi Hooks
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