Mother Nature 3, Arkansas 2, RockHounds 1
April 12, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Right Fielder Chad Oberacker
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo/Midland RockHounds)
RockHounds right fielder Chad Oberacker, seen here diving back to first base on a pick off attempt in the third inning, drove in the only RockHounds run in Sunday's rain-shortened 2-1 loss to the Arkansas Travelers at Security Bank Ballpark. (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
If Mother Nature does not receive a Christmas card from RockHounds manager Ryan Christenson this year, it will be easy to understand why.
With the RockHounds trailing, 2-1, in the home half of the sixth, Colin Walsh led off with a double to right-center field. With the tying run in scoring position and the heart of the order due up (# 3 hitter Matt Olson was at the plate with a 1-1 count), the game was interrupted by lightning, followed by a major thunderstorm. Play was never resumed, resulting in a 2-1 win for the Arkansas Travelers and as frustrating a loss as can be dealt with this early in a season for the RockHounds.
Arkansas improved to a perfect 4-0 to open the year, taking the weather-shortened opener of a three-game series at Security Bank Ballpark. The Travelers arrived in West Texas fresh of a three-game sweep of the Frisco RoughRiders in the Metroplex. The 'Hounds, after taking two-of-three from Northwest Arkansas, fell to 2-2 with the difficult defeat.
Making the first start of his professional career, Arkansas' Alan Busenitz was the winning pitcher, allowing one run on three hits over five innings of work. He did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, and kept the RockHounds off the board until the last of the fifth. With two out, Carson Blair doubled to right field, and Chad Oberacker brought him home with a single to right-center, cutting the Travelers' lead to 2-1.
Arkansas opened the scoring on Anthony Bemboom 's two-out RBI flair single in the second. Kentrail Davis later supplied what would be the game-winning run with a solo home run leading off the fourth inning. Davis' second homer in as many games gave the Travelers a 2-0 edge.
The 'Hounds then put together the makings of a game-tying (or better) rally before Mother Nature intervened in the sixth.
Line Score R H E LOB
Arkansas Travelers 2 7 1 7
RockHounds 1 4 0 4
WP Alan Busenitz (1-0, 3.38)
LP Jake Sanchez (0-1, 9.64)
SV None
HR Arkansas - Kentrail Davis (2) - Solo in the fourth (off Jake Sanchez)
Kibbles & Bits
By the book: Rules can be a tricky proposition. Had Arkansas taken the lead in the top of the sixth inning, the game would have been suspended and resumed with Walsh in scoring position, no outs, and Olson at the plate. But, since the Travs already held the lead entering the sixth inning, the game ended with the arrival of the lightning and thunderstorm (following a "wait-and-see" delay of 50 minutes). Alan Busenitz was a relief pitcher through his first two professional seasons, making 70 appearances, all out of the bullpen at the Rookie and Single-A levels. His transition to the starting rotation couldn't have been much smoother; the right-hander out of Kennesaw State University (Georgia) retired the first eight men he faced and allowed only a walk and a single to the first 16 batters. The "saga" of Colin Walsh 's on-base streak grew on Sunday, with a big dose of frustration attached. When he was called up from the RockHounds to (Triple-A) Sacramento last May, Colin had reached base (meaning a base hit, walk or hit by pitch) in 25 consecutive games. He spent the rest of the season with the Triple-A RiverCats before opening 2015 back with the 'Hounds, meaning his streak at the Double-A level remained intact. After reaching base in all three games against Northwest Arkansas, Colin was 0-for-2 entering the sixth. His leadoff double (on what would be the final at bat of the game) extended the streak and put the tying run in scoring position, but weather took away the scoring chance. Chad Oberacker had a walk and drove in the RockHounds' only run with a single. "Obie," who was a member of the 2014 Texas League championship club, is 4-for-7 with a triple and four runs batted in through the first four games of the season.
Next Game
vs. Arkansas Travelers (Los Angeles Angels Double-A Affiliate)
Monday, April 13 - 6:30 p.m. Two Dollar Monday
Security Bank Ballpark Radio at 3:47 p.m.
Two Dollar Monday presented by Basic Energy Services & 7-Eleven
Coupons available at any area 7-Eleven location
Pitching Probables
Day Arkansas Travelers at RockHounds
Monday RHP Kyle McGowan LHP Jake Lamb
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Right Fielder Chad Oberacker (Frank Longobardo/Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from April 12, 2015
- Mother Nature 3, Arkansas 2, RockHounds 1 - Midland RockHounds
- Sunday Sunday: Riders Get First Win of 2015 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Ohlman and Cardinals Slam San Antonio, 4-2 - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Fall in Series Opener at Frisco - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Win No. 4: a Sunday Shutout - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Blanked by Hooks 4-0 - Tulsa Drillers
- Curse of the Clock - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Complete Season Opening Sweep in Frisco - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Run Table in Ozarks - Corpus Christi Hooks
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