Overtime Triskaidekaphobia
Published on May 14, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds First Baseman Ryon Healy
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo)
Friday the Thirteenth was in its waning moments, but triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) struck after all.
The San Antonio Missions had stranded 14 base runners through the first nine innings, but Nelson Ward made sure that figure didn't escalate any further, ripping a walk-off home run to right field in the 10th, squaring the series at a game apiece, with both games going to extra innings.
The game's first three runs were manufactured ... the last two came on blasts --- Ryon Healy's towering drive to left field in the eighth inning tied the game at 2-2 before Ward's walk-off in extras.
The Missions scored in the first on a pair of two-out singles (Auston Bousfield and Nick Torres) compounded by a wild pitch from starter Joel Seddon and Bousfield's one-out walk in the third was followed by singles from Torres and Nick Schulz (RBI). Seddon battled through four innings, stranding a half-dozen Missions base-runners in the first three innings before retiring the side in order in the fourth.
In the fifth, Beau Taylor turned an 0-2 count into a leadoff walk and Franklin Barreto followed with a perfect bunt single. J.P. Sportman's double over the head of third baseman Gabriel Quintana scored Taylor, but the rally ran out of steam when Danny Oh's ground out to first turned into a 3-6-3-2 double play with Barreto thrown out at home.
The RockHounds
... are 20-14 (10-4 at Security Bank Ballpark and 10-10 on the road) ... are 3-3 on their (eight-game) road trip ... are 5-5 vs. San Antonio.
... are three games behind first-place Frisco (23-11) in the Texas League South Division. The big winner Friday was Corpus Christi. The Hooks made it three straight over Frisco (at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi) with a doubleheader sweep of the Riders (the clubs were making up a game lost due to wet grounds in April). The Hooks (19-15) are now back to within four games of Frisco and just a game behind the 'Hounds.
... take on the Missions in San Antonio on Saturday evening (7:05 p.m.) and Sunday afternoon (2:05 p.m.) to complete the (eight-game) road trip.
... return to Security Bank Ballpark on Monday to begin an eight-game homestand (May 16-23) in which they will host division-leading Frisco (Monday through Thursday, May 16-19) and the Corpus Christi Hooks (Friday through Monday, May 20-23).
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY Ryon Healy doesn't "own" San Antonio, but, as the classic character Fletch once put it, Healy has "a lease, with an option to buy." Through the first 11 meetings between the clubs, Ryon is hitting .488 (21-for-43) with three doubles, two triples, three HR and 10 RBI (an .860 slugging percentage).
- A baseball season is, almost always, made up of a series of ups and downs - - - just ask Franklin Barreto. In his last 10 games, Franklin is hitting .114 (4-for-35, with an absolute "Rembrandt" bunt single Friday). In his previous 10 games, the A's prospect hit .435 (20-for-46).
- Healy's game-tying home run and Nelson Ward's walk-off both came on 1-2 counts and in at-bats that started 0-2. Healy's drive came off Kyle McGrath, who was making his Double-A debut. In 11 appearances with the (Advanced-A) California League Lake Elsinore Storm, the left-hander had not given up an earned run (one run overall) in 17.1 innings, allowing just 11 hits and one walk against 26 strikeouts. Healy's homer was the only base runner McGrath allowed in two innings Friday, striking out three.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds First Baseman Ryon Healy (Frank Longobardo) |
Texas League Stories from May 14, 2016
- San Antonio Sets Season High in Runs in Second - San Antonio Missions
- Hooks Rule RoughRiders - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders' Struggles Continue in Loss to Hooks - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Top Cardinals on Saturday Night - Springfield Cardinals
- Junis, Schwindel Lift Naturals to 7-2 Win over Cardinals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Walk-Off Grand Slam Leads Tulsa to Sweep - Tulsa Drillers
- Towey's Tying HR Not Enough, Travs Fall - Arkansas Travelers
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 at Corpus Christi Hooks - May 14, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Overtime Triskaidekaphobia - Midland RockHounds
- Ward Walks off RockHounds in 11 - San Antonio Missions
- Hooks Sweep Doubleheader from Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
