Six Jacks Beat a Pair
April 10, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds First Baseman Viosergy Rosa
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Alan Jamison)
Northwest Arkansas, looking for its first win of the young season, busted loose Sunday afternoon. The Naturals, hitting six home runs as part of a 17-hit attack, defeated the RockHounds, 16-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas.
Hunter Dozier and Bubba Starling hit two home runs each on a day in which the wind in Northwest Arkansas resembled that of West Texas - - gusting to 35 miles-per-hour. Raul Mondesi and Mauricio Ramos also homered for the Naturals and Orlando Calixte had the game's biggest hit - - a bases-loaded, three-run double in the third inning. The Naturals broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the third (all with two out) and plated five more in the fourth to break the game open. Piggy-back starters Joel Seddon and Sam Bragg were roughed up for eight runs each.
The RockHounds had opportunities early, with two men on (including leadoff doubles) in the first two innings and a leadoff single in the third, but could not break through. The loss drops the 'Hounds to 2-2 with two games remaining on the season-opening six-game road trip.
The RockHounds
... continue their season-opening road trip with Monday and Tuesday evening games (7:05) against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in Springdale, Arkansas.
... open their home season next Thursday (April 14) at Security Bank Ballpark. The 'Hounds will meet the same two clubs they are facing on the road trip, hosting the Arkansas Travelers (April 14-16) and Northwest Arkansas Naturals (April 17-19) in a six-game homestand. Tickets are on sale now at the Security Bank Ballpark ticket office and online at midlandrockhounds.org.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY Matt Chapman's solo home run Saturday night was, technically, his first base hit at the Double-A level, but RockHounds fans know better. "Chappy" was with the club in 2014, earning Most Valuable Player honors (as named by Minor League Baseball) in the Texas League playoffs. When third baseman Jefry Marte was lost to injury on the next-to-last day of the regular season, Matt was called up to the 'Hounds after spending his first pro season (he was Oakland's # 1 draft choice in June 2014) from Beloit, where the (Single-A) Snappers' season was over. Matt went 0-for-3 in the last regular season game (at Frisco), then hit .310 (9-29) with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in the postseason (along with outstanding defense), helping the RockHounds win the first of their back-to-back TL titles.
- Oh-Two, Oh My One of the hurdles in making the transition from Single-A to the Double-A level is "putting hitters away." The majority of Northwest Arkansas' 16 runs involved Naturals' hitters overcoming 0-2 starts in at bats or plate appearances. In the third, Frank Schwindel led off and fell behind Joel Seddon, 0-2, before singling to left on a 3-2 pitch. That at bat was followed by two outs before the Naturals scored five runs. Back-to-back home runs from Bubba Starling (off Seddon) and Hunter Dozier (off Sam Bragg) in the fourth also started with 0-2 counts, as did Carlos Garcia's seventh-inning leadoff single, which was followed (two outs later) by Starling's second homer.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds First Baseman Viosergy Rosa (Alan Jamison) |
Texas League Stories from April 10, 2016
- Riders Rally for Comeback Victory in 12 Innings - Frisco RoughRiders
- Six Jacks Beat a Pair - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Blanked Again in 3-0 Loss to Missions - Tulsa Drillers
- Diaz Helps Missions Blank Drillers in Opener - San Antonio Missions
- Cardinals Hook 6-4 Win in Corpus Christi - Springfield Cardinals
- Cardinals Hold off Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Offense Erupts in 16-2 Win over Midland - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- San Antonio Takes Opener vs. Tulsa Thanks to Diaz's Gem - San Antonio Missions
- Riders Game Notes - 6:10 p.m. at Arkansas Travelers - April 10, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Brett Nicholas Gets Call to Rangers - Frisco RoughRiders
- Former Riders Nomar Mazara, Brett Nicholas Head to Big Leagues - Frisco RoughRiders
- Martes Masterful in Victory - Corpus Christi Hooks
- RockHounds, Heal(Y) Thyselves - Midland RockHounds
- San Antonio Holds off Springfield to Even Series - San Antonio Missions
- Caldwell-Led Cardinals Edge Missions in Opener - San Antonio Missions
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