TL1 Midland RockHounds

Series Finale Suspended in Extra Innings

Published on April 8, 2019 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


A game that "should" have ended in nine innings refused to end at all Sunday at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.

The RockHounds, after missing a golden opportunity for a win in regulation, scored in the top of the 11th to take a 4-1 lead, only to see Mother Nature intervene. Sunday's game was suspended with the 'Hounds at the plate, bases loaded and one out.

Collin Theroux ripped an opposite-field solo home run off Texas Rangers prospect Joe Palumbo in the third inning for a 1-0 lead that held until LeDarious Clark belted a solo shot to straightaway center field in the eighth. It was the only run allowed in five innings of work from reliever Logan Verrett.

Run-saving catches by Clark (a brilliant, over-the-shoulder grab that robbed Theroux in the ninth) and Nate Mondou (a diving catch on a would-be RBI single to right in the eighth after Clark's home run) kept the score tied at 1-1.

The 'Hounds, meanwhile, left a run "off the board" in the sixth. Luis Barrera tripled and was at third with one out when Dairon Blanco sent a drive to deep center. Luis, instead of tagging, came home and was at the plate when Frisco center fielder Eliezer Alvarez made the catch, keeping the score at 1-0.

Reliever Zack Erwin was outstanding in the 10th (after the 'Hounds failed to score in the top half of the inning). After a sacrifice bunt pushed Frisco's "automatic" runner to third with one out, the RockHounds elected to intentionally walk two hitters to load the bases. Erwin, making his Double-A debut, struck out Alvarez and Preston Beck, Frisco's top hitter, to escape the inning.

Nate Mondou drew a bases-loaded walk and Ballan Perez followed with a two-run single (his first Double-A hit) to push the lead to 4-1 when rain halted play.

Notables

The game will be resumed at a date to be determined, likely during the series between the clubs May 18-20 in Frisco.

STATS: All stats from Sunday's game will count, but not until the game is completed.

If you go 1-for-5 and are still hitting .500, you're off to a great start. Luis Barrera's triple was his only hit in five at-bats Sunday, "dropping" his average to .500 for the series (8-for-16).

The RockHounds have played errorless baseball over the first four games of the season. Nate Mondou went airborne for the run-saving catch on Eliezer Alvarez' line drive in the eighth. Nate's diving catch, which kept the go-ahead run from scoring, was the top defensive play of the series,

Run production was a good news / bad news scenario for the RockHounds in the season-opening series. Before the three-run 11th inning rally, the club was 3-for-41 with runners in scoring position. The 'Hounds then went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the 11th Sunday. As mentioned yesterday, this is a very "young" club among the position players, none of whom entered the season with a full year at the Double-A level experience (and, yes, that's very unusual).

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Next Game

Monday, April 8 vs. Amarillo Sod Poodles

HODGETOWN Amarillo, Texas

First pitch 7:05 p.m.

- First of a three-game series and fifth of a seven-game road trip

- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 7:00 p.m.

Probable Starters

AMA: Reggie Lawson (RH, first start)

RH: Matt Milburn (RH, first start)

Home Opener at Security Bank Ballpark:

Thursday, April 11 vs. Frisco RoughRiders

First pitch at 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.

"Thirsty" Thursday & Magnet Schedules (first 1,000 fans)

Check out the Midland RockHounds Statistics

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Texas League Stories from April 8, 2019


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