Oh Well ... There Goes Our Perfect Season
April 9, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Pitcher Raul Alcantara
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Mark Wagner)
The above is an actual newspaper headline, one we borrow annually on the occasion of the club's first defeat of the season (hey, it's gonna happen to every professional baseball team, sooner or later ... usually sooner). In 1966, the morning after the Seattle Angels lost their Pacific Coast League opener, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ran the above headline. Seattle, by the way, went on to win the PCL title that year.
The Arkansas Travelers avenged a 7-2 Opening Night loss, shutting out the RockHounds, 2-0 on Friday at Dickey-Stephens Park.
The pitching match-up was "Alcantara vs. Alcantara," and both starters were outstanding.
Arkansas' Victor Alcantara pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the first and was almost untouchable through his next five innings, allowing just one walk and one single after escaping the early trouble. The Los Angeles Angels' # 4 prospect went six innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out eight (see below).
The RockHounds' Raul Alcantara was nearly as good, allowing just two runs on four hits over five innings. The Travelers' game-winning rally in the third opened when Stephen McGee (after falling behind, 0-2) singled to center. After a fielder's choice put Angel Rosa on first base with one out, Bo Way singled and Sherman Johnson walked, loading the bases. Chad Hinshaw's line drive sacrifice fly to left and Eric Aguilera's third RBI of the series (a sharp single to right) then produced what would be the game's only runs.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Pitcher Raul Alcantara (Mark Wagner) |
Texas League Stories from April 9, 2016
- Cards Rally Late to Take Series - San Antonio Missions
- Healy's Heroics Trump Travs in Finale - Arkansas Travelers
- Early Homers Too Much for Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Martes Masterful in Victory - Corpus Christi Hooks
- San Antonio Squanders Lead, Drops Series Finale - San Antonio Missions
- Cardinals Claim Series Win with 6-4 Comeback Victory - Springfield Cardinals
- Jackson Leads Big Offensive Day as Riders Sweep - Frisco RoughRiders
- Roughriders Defeat Naturals in Series Finale - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 6:05 p.m. at Northwest Arkansas Naturals - April 9, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Oh Well ... There Goes Our Perfect Season - Midland RockHounds
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