Mother's Day
Published on May 17, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Center Fielder Jaycob Brugman
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo)
Mother Nature, that is. We'll never know where Viosergy Rosa's ninth-inning fly ball might have landed on a calm night, but it sure wouldn't have been inside the walls of the playing field. More importantly, however, this was not a calm night.
With two on and two out in the last of the ninth, Rosa sent a drive to deep right field, a would-be three-run walk-off, but into a right-to-left wind measured throughout the game at 20-27 miles per hour. The result was a warning track catch by Preston Beck, preserving a 4-2 Frisco win in the opener of a four-game series.
Ryan Cordell was the (non-meteorological) difference in the game, continuing an absolutely outstanding season. After Lewis Brinson's triple tied the game at 2-2 in the third, Cordell beat out a chopper to shortstop. The infield single not only brought home what would be the game-winning run, it extended his on-base streak to 35 games. Cordell later added a solo homer (a blast onto the grass berm in left) and now leads the Texas League in both home runs (10) and RBI (35). Cordell is also second in the TL with a .359 batting average.
While there were key errors by both clubs early ... just two of the game's first five runs were earned ... pitching and defense were at the forefront the rest of the way. RoughRiders pitchers allowed just three hits before back-to-back singles by Yairo Munoz and Ryon Healy in the ninth put the potential tying runs on base (and leading up to Rosa's close call).
The RoughRiders snapped a five-game losing streak (the last four of those to Corpus Christi ... see below) and improved to 24-12 on the season.
The RockHounds
... are 20-16 (10-5 at Security Bank Ballpark and 10-11 on the road) ... are 2-3 against the RoughRiders.
... fall into third place in the Texas League South, four games behind Frisco and one game behind the streaking Corpus Christi Hooks, who extended their win streak to seven games with an 8-0 win at San Antonio. The Hooks stay three games behind the first place RoughRiders.
... continue their eight-game homestand, hosting Frisco on Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. (see note, below). The game is the second of our Safety Awareness Days (Kids Days). The 'Hounds host Frisco through Thursday night, followed by four games with the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Kibbles & Bits
YU & A CAST OF THOUSANDS ... ALL UNDER FIVE FEET TALL Â
Tuesday is the second of our Safety Awareness Days, in which we welcome school kids from across West Texas. The Kids Day game, as always has an eleven o'clock first pitch. Ironically, it is also a game in which Yu Darvish will make a rehab start for the RoughRiders.
Darvish, who last pitched for Texas in 2014, will make his fourth rehab start (two with Triple-A Round Rock and now his second with the Riders) as he nears a highly-anticipated return to the Texas rotation. The Rangers had an interesting choice to make for Darvish's Tuesday start (and it has to be Tuesday to keep him on schedule). The Round Rock Express play in the thin air of Albuquerque, New Mexico ... not the most conducive of pitching environments ... so the Rangers have chosen to send their erstwhile ace "back to school," (so to speak) and Darvish will start Tuesday morning. He is excepted to pitch five innings or 75 pitches for the Riders.
Darvish will be opposed by Joey Wagman. The right-hander has joined the RockHounds from (Advanced-A) Stockton, where he was 0-1, 5.50 in nine games. Ironically, Wagman made one start for the RockHounds in 2015 - - - on Safety Awareness Day. He was the winner in an 8-4 'Hounds victory over the Corpus Christi Hooks, a game in which he went five innings, allowing three hits and one earned run with a walk and three strikeouts.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Center Fielder Jaycob Brugman (Frank Longobardo) |
Texas League Stories from May 17, 2016
- Kipper No-Hits Naturals in 6-0 Travelers Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Keep Rolling with 5-3 Win against Tulsa - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Win Streak Snapped with Loss to Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Yu Look(ed) Marvelous; Teams Stayed Way After School - Midland RockHounds
- Frisco RoughRiders Unveil "Rougie's Red Punch" Mixed Drink - Frisco RoughRiders
- Riders Win 15-Inning Thriller After Darvish's Dandy - Frisco RoughRiders
- Only 87 Adam Wainwright BobbleHead/Arm Theme Tickets Remain - Springfield Cardinals
- Riders Game Notes - 11:00 at Midland RockHounds - May 17, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Mother's Day - Midland RockHounds
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