RockHounds Sweep Weekly Texas League Honors
September 7, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
On the final day of the 2015 regular season, the RockHounds added two more accolades to what has already been a record-setting year.
Renato Nuñez and Sean Manaea have been named Texas League Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for the week of August 31-September 6.
In 44 years of Cubs, Angels and RockHounds baseball, the franchise has seen some remarkable offensive performances. That being said, it's hard to imagine a more impressive pair of games "at the dish" than Nuñez put together Saturday and Sunday in Frisco. In leading the 'Hounds to wins of 21-4 and 7-1, Nunez went 8-for-11, with a double, two grand slam home runs and 11 runs batted in.
Saturday night he went 5-for-7, becoming the fifth player in the league to collect five hits in a game this season (all five are RockHounds, see below). In an 11-run ninth inning, Nunez drove in five runs with a grand slam home run and an RBI single. He followed that performance with a first-inning single Sunday and his second "slam," finishing the game 3-for-4 with five runs batted in.
For the week, Nunez went 11-for-27 (.407) with three doubles, two grand slams and a dozen runs batted in. The 21-year-old native of Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela is rated among Oakland's top five prospects by virtually every ratings source.
The Texas League Pitcher of the Week award is Manaea's second in just over a month with the club. Acquired by Oakland from the Kansas from Kansas City in the trade deadline deal which sent Ben Zobrist to the Royals, Manaea made his RockHounds (and Oakland A's organizational) debut July 31. In seven starts with the 'Hounds, the left-hander ... now rated the A's # 3 prospect ... is 6-0, with a 1.90 ERA.
In his only start of the week (September 3 at San Antonio), Manaea struck out thirteen batters in six innings of work in a 4-1 win over the Missions. In his last two starts, he has gone a combined 13 innings, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out 20 batters. The 23-year-old Indiana native was also named the TL Pitcher of the Week for July 27-August 3, following his first start with the 'Hounds (July 31 at Security Bank Ballpark). In that game, he pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and now walks while striking out nine, in a 4-0 shutout of the Corpus Christi Hooks.
It's appropriate that Manaea's win and Nuñez's remarkable display came during games in which the team reached a milestone. Manaea's 13 punch-out performance (September 3) was part of the club's 80th win, and Nunez's 11 RBI helped the 'Hounds gain victories 81 and 82. Each is significant, as the 1975 Midland Cubs had been the only team in franchise history to win 80 games (81-53). The 'Hounds became the second to reach that plateau, then tied and surpassed the '75 club for most wins in a season. Entering their Labor Day season finale, the RockHounds are 82-57 and, like the '75 club, bound for the Texas League playoffs.
- Saturday's five-hit game was the fifth in the Texas League this season, and the 'Hounds are responsible for all five:Â Ryon Healy, remarkably, has three of them, with Nuñez and Jaycob Brugman each collecting one.
- There have been 20 grand slam home runs in the league this season, and 'Hounds hitters now have seven of them: Nuñez and Chad Pinder each have two, while Brugman, Wade Kirkland and Bruce Maxwell have one each.
- While the 1975 Cubs will still hold the best winning percentage (.604), the 2015 RockHounds have clinched the best half-season in franchise history and the second-best overall record in the franchise's 44 years (in addition to eclipsing the '75 Cubs for most wins in a season).
- The RockHounds are the defending Texas League champions and are making back-to-back trips to the playoffs for just the third time in the franchise's history. In each case, the club was the defending TL champion and each came during the RockHounds / Oakland A's era - - - 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2014-15.
- Entering the final day of the 2015 regular season, the RockHounds and Corpus Christi are a combined 62 games over .500. The first half champion Hooks (88-51 overall) and second half champion 'Hounds (82-57) will meet in the Texas League South Division Championship Series, with the first two games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi. The best-of-five series then shifts to Security Bank Ballpark for the remaining games (three, four and five, as necessary). The South Division champion will then meet the North Division winner in the Texas League Championship Series (September 15-20).
Texas League Stories from September 7, 2015
- Marte Goes Deep But Riders Drop Season Finale - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks End Regular Year with MiLB-Best 89 Wins - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Another Big Inning Lifts Hooks Past Missions in Season Finale - San Antonio Missions
- Arkansas Travelers Second Half Champs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Win Regular Season Finale, 6-3, on Monday - Springfield Cardinals
- Late Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss at Arkansas - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RockHounds Sweep Weekly Texas League Honors - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Close Season with Loss in Springfield - Tulsa Drillers
- 'Hounds Are Historically Good ... Renato Is Just Grand - Midland RockHounds
- Tulsa Offense Explodes in 10-4 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Top Cards Before 8,385 Fans at Hammons Field - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Rout Missions for Win No. 88 - 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.
