Of Streaks & Sprinklers
July 27, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Matt Olson of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
Matt Olson went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run - his second in his last four games - as the RockHounds edged the San Antonio Missions, 6-5 on Sunday night at Security Bank Ballpark. (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
What the first three games of the series between the RockHounds and San Antonio Missions lacked in drama, the finale more than made up for.
After the first three contests were decided by a combined margin of victory of 23-2, Sunday's wrap-up game ended with a 6-5 score, the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at first in the San Antonio ninth.
In the top of the first, the stadium sprinklers came on (for a matter of a few seconds) just before Chris Jensen delivered a pitch to Missions shortstop Benji Gonzalez, who sent the pitch into the right field corner for an apparent triple. After a lengthy conference, and in a no-win situation (one team was going to be happy; the other miffed), the umpiring crew ruled the pitch ... and, therefore, the triple ... did not count.
Gonzalez would later be the batter with two on and two out in the ninth, sending a flair to shortstop to end the game. That ball was caught by Chad Pinder, who (once he made the play to record the final out) saw an 18-game hit streak go by the boards in the game (see below).
A Diego Goris two-run home run in the second gave San Antonio a 2-1 lead, but the RockHounds rallied back with three in the fourth, the first on Matt Olson's 10th home run of the season (and second of the series). The last two runs came on a bases-loaded error by Missions third baseman Duanel Jones. Another Missions error opened the door in the sixth, when the 'Hounds broke a 4-4 tie on an RBI single from Rangel Ravelo (see below) before scoring what would be the winning run by grounding into a bases-loaded double play.
The Missions rallied in the ninth, drawing to within 6-5 on a pinch-hit RBI single from Hunter Renfroe, before Ryan Doolittle closed the door with a strikeout of Adolfo Reina (who was 2-for-3 going into the at bat) and the "irony" of Gonzalez looping out to Pinder to end the game.
The RockHounds
... are 19-11 in the second half and 54-46 overall (a new high-water mark for the season at eight games over .500) ... won the (four-game) series with San Antonio 3-games-to-1 ... are 18-10 in the season series with the Missions (11-5 at home and 7-5 at Nelson Wolff Stadium) ... the clubs do not meet again until September 1-4 (at San Antonio), the last week of the Texas League's regular season ... are 32-18 at Security Bank Ballpark and 22-28 on the road ... are 35-29 vs. the South Division and 19-17 vs. the North.
- Texas League South: The RockHounds' lead over Frisco is now at a 1.5 games, as the clubs prepare for a three-game series in the Metroplex. Corpus Christi defeated the RoughRiders, 5-2, Sunday, marking the first time in 15 days the RockHounds and Riders have been separated by more than a half-game. The Hooks (16-14) stay three games behind the 'Hounds, while San Antonio slips eight games back.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY: Ryan Doolittle's dramatic, two-inning save was his first in three years, three months and one day. On April 25, 2012, he went two innings to preserve a 3-1 win for the Midwest League's Burlington Bees (at the time Oakland's Single-A affiliate).
- Chad Pinder's hit streak was snapped at 18 games, as the RockHounds shortstop went 0-for-5. The 18-gamer, in which Chad hit .403 (31-77) matched Mike Ohlman of Springfield (May 26-June 21) for the longest hit streak in the Texas League this season.
- Colin Walsh (3-for-5, two doubles, run) extended his hit streak to 14 games (23-for-53, .434) and has reached base in 15 straight.
- Rangel Ravelo (2-for-4, walk, RBI) has hit in three straight games (6-for-13) and has hits in 7-of-his-last-8 games (12-for-31, .387) with seven RBI.
Images from this story
 Matt Olson of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from July 27, 2015
- Missions Lose Series to RockHounds - San Antonio Missions
- Towey, Bemboom Clutch in 5th-Straight Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Big Inning Helps Drillers Stop Skid - Tulsa Drillers
- Hounds' Homers Too Much for Riders - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Edged in North Little Rock, 4-3 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RoughRiders Present "Small Business of the Month Award" on Behalf of OnDeck Capital - Frisco RoughRiders
- Nick Williams Named Texas League Player of the Week - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cody Reed Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Suarez' Gem & Snyder Blast Caps Sweep - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Strike for Series Win - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Of Streaks & Sprinklers - Midland RockHounds
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