Natural Atonement
April 12, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Catcher Carson Blair Rounds the Bases
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo/Midland RockHounds)
RockHounds catcher Carson Blair went 2-for-4 and drove in all three of the team's runs in Monday night's 5-3 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Arvest Ballpark. (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
In the first inning on Monday night, Northwest Arkansas first baseman Mauricio Ramos misplayed a throw from shortstop Raul Mondesi.
The error allowed Ryon Healy to reach base and he would later score, with the unearned run giving the RockHounds a 1-0 lead.
With the 'Hounds still on top, 3-2, in the last of the eighth, Ramos atoned for the defensive miscue with the game's decisive swing, a three-run double, giving the Naturals a 5-3 win. Northwest Arkansas' lethal 3-4-5 hitters - Bubba Starling, Hunter Dozier and Orlando Calixte (see note, below) - set the table in the eighth with a pair of doubles and a walk, respectively, to load the bases against 'Hounds reliever Jake Sanchez. On the first pitch of his at bat, Ramos sent a shot down the left field line, clearing the bases to give Northwest Arkansas the lead.
The RockHounds threatened in the ninth on back-to-back one-out singles from pinch-hitter Viosergy Rosa and Danny Oh, but Naturals reliever Mark Peterson retired the next two batters to end the game, giving Northwest Arkansas it second straight win in the series.
Carson Blair drove in all three RockHounds runs, including a tie-breaking single in the fifth.
The RockHounds
... conclude their season-opening road trip Tuesday evening (7:05) against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in Springdale, Arkansas.
... are 2-3 and have dropped two straight. Frisco, leading the South Division at 5-0, is the Texas League's only unbeaten team. The RoughRiders shut out Arkansas, 1-0, on a combined one-hitter Monday night at North Little Rock.
... open their home season Thursday (April 14) at Security Bank Ballpark. The 'Hounds will meet the same two clubs they are facing on the road trip, hosting the Arkansas Travelers (April 14-16) and Northwest Arkansas Naturals (April 17-19) in a six-game home stand. Tickets are on sale now at the Security Bank Ballpark ticket office and online at midlandrockhounds.org.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY
Oddity 1: As we have noted here, the RockHounds do not have a left-handed pitcher on their roster.
Oddity 2: Northwest Arkansas does not have a "pure" left-handed hitter on its roster. The Naturals have nine right-handed bats and (thankfully for manager Vance Wilson's line-up card) three switch-hitters.
- Reliever Trey Cochran-Gill was outstanding, pitching two scoreless innings after entering the game with the score 3-2, the tying run in scoring position and no outs in the fifth and facing the heart of the order. After Bubba Starling bounced out, Cochran-Gill struck out Hunter Dozier and Orlando Calixte to end the threat. In Sunday's 16-2 win, Starling, Dozier and Calixte combined for four home runs and 10 RBI.
- After going 0-for-5 to start the season, Viosergy Rosa is four for his last seven, with two doubles (including a two-bagger that triggered the game-winning rally Saturday night at Arkansas) and an RBI. Adding a walk, Vio has reached base in five of his last eight plate appearances.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Catcher Carson Blair Rounds the Bases (Frank Longobardo/Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from April 12, 2016
- Tulsa Falls to San Antonio 6-3 in Series Finale - Tulsa Drillers
- Cards Take Series from Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals Come Back for 7-3 Win and Series Victory in Corpus Christi - Springfield Cardinals
- Ward's Homer Lifts Missions to Series Victory - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Complete Three Game Sweep of RockHounds - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Hit the Road After 6-3 Finale Win - Arkansas Travelers
- RoughRiders Revamp CoServ Teacher of the Month Program - Frisco RoughRiders
- Riders Suffer First Loss in Series Finale - Frisco RoughRiders
- Riders Game Notes - 11:00 a.m. at Arkansas Travelers - April 12, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Natural Atonement - Midland RockHounds
- 'Riders One-Hit Travs, Win 1-0 - Arkansas Travelers
- Bregman Big for Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hooks Outlast Cardinals in 12 Innings, 5-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Homers Sink Missions as Drillers Even Series - San Antonio Missions
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