Role Reversal
Published on July 8, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
In their last home stand, facing Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas, the RockHounds won the first game before dropping five straight.
On their just-concluded road trip, facing the same two clubs, the 'Hounds dropped the first game ... then won the last five.
The RockHounds completed a three-game sweep at North Little Rock, building a 6-1 lead after three innings, then holding off the Travelers, 6-3.
The 'Hounds scored three times in the first, batting around against Arkansas starter Orangel Arenas, who threw 44 pitches in the inning. Billy Burns led off with an infield single and D'Arby Myers reached on an error. Max Muncy's deep fly to right pushed Burns to third and Jefry Marte's sacrifice fly brought in the game's first run. Hiro Nakajima walked and Kent Matthes reached on a roller up the third base line, loading the bases. After falling behind, 0-2, Conner Crumbliss drew a bases-loaded walk on a 12 -pitch plate appearance. Arenas then walked Dusty Coleman on four pitches to make the score 3-0.
Arenas retired the side in order in the second and had Marte down, 0-2, leading off the third, but hit the 'Hounds third baseman on the next pitch. Nakajima drew his second walk and Matthes ripped a line drive to left, loading the bases. Crumbliss collected his second RBI with a sacrifice fly and Beau Taylor's double to right drove in a pair for a 6-1 lead. Arenas finished the game throwing 81 pitches in 2.2 innings.
After allowing an unearned run in the first, Shawn Haviland retired 14 consecutive hitters before giving up two runs in the sixth. Adam Melker hit a solo home run to right-center, followed by back-to-back doubles from Maikol Gonzalez and Alex Yarbrough, drawing the Travelers to within 6-3. Murphy Smith, Frank Gailey and Jose Flores combined to pitch the last three innings, with Flores earning his second save
WP:Shawn Haviland (5-5, 3.24)
LP:Orangel Arenas (5-6, 3.67)
SV:Jose Flores (2, A0
HR:Arkansas - Adam Melker (3) Solo in the sixth (off Shawn Haviland)
Kibbles & Bits
- The RockHounds won their fifth straight game to finish the road trip 5-1. San Antonio fell, in extra innings, at home to Tulsa, which brings the RockHounds (10-7) to within a half-game of the first-place Missions (11-7), with the clubs set to meet eight times in 12 days (all at Security Bank Ballpark), beginning Wednesday. The club will play a pair of four-game series over the dozen days.
- In the last four games of the road trip, RockHounds pitchers allowed just four runs, and just three earned runs (a 0.75 ERA).
- CONGRATULATIONS to three former RockHounds selected for the 2014 Major League All-Star Game (Tuesday, July 15 at Minnesota's Target Field) - - - third baseman Josh Donaldson and pitchers Sean Doolittle and Tyson Ross. Josh and Sean are two of baseball's most remarkable success stories (Donaldson a catcher-turned-third baseman and Doolittle a position player-turned-pitcher). Tyson, now with the San Diego Padres, was the starting pitcher in the decisive game of the 2009 Texas League Championship Series. While he didn't figure in the decision, his performance was one of the best ... and certainly most significant ... in franchise history. Ross went 6.0 innings, allowing no runs on three hits and a walk while striking out 11 NW Arkansas batters (the 'Hounds won the title in 12 innings, 4-2, on a home run by unlikely hero Raul Padron). Tyson's battery mate that day? Catcher Josh Donaldson.
- Tuesday is a league-wide off/travel day, with the RockHounds then opening a four-game home stand against the San Antonio Missions on Wednesday evening (6:30) at Security Bank Ballpark. The quick four-game stand includes a Thirsty Thursday (July 10) ... Cap Night (Friday the 11th) ... and post-game fireworks (Saturday the 12th).
- Wednesday's game is also the beginning of the longest continuous stretch of the Texas League schedule ... 26-games-in-26-days. Clubs will play each day, July 9 through August 3, all of it division play.
Next Game
vs. San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' AA Affiliate)
Wednesday, July 9 - 6:30 p.m. (Radio at 6:15 p.m.)
Security Bank Ballpark
Probable Starters
San Antonio: Leonel Campos (RH, 0-2, 2.08)
RockHounds: Chris Jensen (RH, 5-7, 3.80)
Texas League Stories from July 8, 2014
- Padres to Host Tryouts at Wolff Stadium this Friday - San Antonio Missions
- BIG Country Bash to Feature Canaan Smith on August 9 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Back Home Tomorrow - Tulsa Drillers
- Role Reversal - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Drop Sixth Straight to End Home Stand - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Walk off with Sweep - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Boosted by the Long Ball - Frisco RoughRiders
- Walk-Off Hit Spoils Tulsa Rally - Tulsa Drillers
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