Sod Poodles Take Two Straight over RockHounds to Begin Homestand
August 13, 2019 - Texas League (TL1)
Amarillo Sod Poodles News Release
AMARILLO, Texas - The Sod Poodles were victorious in the first two games of the four-game set against the Midland RockHounds. Amarillo won in walk-off fashion in Monday's suspended game by a final score of 3-2 in front for a crowd of 5,383 at HODGETOWN. Edward Olivares played the hero in game one as he singled to right field to allow Ivan Castillo to score from second base. The game one win clinched the Oil-Pan Cup of the Sod Poodles. In game two, the Sod Poodles came back with two late runs to squeak past Midland to take the 5-4 victory.
Monday Night's Game - Game One Against Midland
Monday night's game between the Sod Poodles and RockHounds began in a forty-seven-minute delay because of rain prior to the 7:05 scheduled first pitch.
In the top of the second inning, Midland scored two runs on four hits to take the early 2-0 lead. A pair of doubles by Tyler Ramirez and Taylor Motter started off the inning for Midland. Greg Deichmann then singled home Ramirez as Motter went to third base. Two batters later Mickey McDonald singled to shallow center field which scored Motter. The inning ended as Chase Calabuig grounded out to second base.
Amarillo responded in the fifth inning, as they knotted the ballgame up at 2-2. Luis Torrens singled to shallow center field to start off the inning. The next batter Hudson Potts reached safely on a throwing error by the first baseman to place runners on first and second. Kyle Overstreet then singled to left-center field to load the bases for outfield Buddy Reed. Reed popped out to shortstop Edwin Diaz to give Midland two outs in the inning. Taylor Kohlwey then roped a two-RBI single to center field to tie the game up at two runs apiece.
In the middle of the sixth inning, the game was suspended due to rain and would resume Tuesday afternoon.
Soddies starter Kyle Lloyd earned the no-decision as he tossed six innings and only allowed two runs on seven hits. Lloyd struck out four Midland batters over 90 pitches.
After play resumed on Tuesday afternoon, Amarillo and Midland locked into a scoreless battle as they went to the eleventh inning knotted at 2-2. In the bottom of the eleventh Ivan Castillo started the inning at second base for the Soddies. Edward Olivares was the first batter of the inning and on the fourth pitch of the inning, Olivares singled to right field which plated Castillo to give Amarillo the 3-2 walk-off win to clinch the Oil-Pan Cup.
Tuesday Night's Game - Game Two Against Midland
Amarillo jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday night. leadoff batter Taylor Trammell worked a walked to bring Ivan Castillo to the plate who singled to right field advancing Trammell to second base. The next batter would be Edward Olivares who grounded into a fielder's choice to place runners on third and first base. Owen Miller then hit an RBI single to shallow right field to score Trammell. Luis Torrens was the next batter who singled through the hole at shortstop to score Olivares. The scoring threat end as Kyle Overstreet struck out looking with the bases load.
In the top of the fourth inning, Midland cut the Amarillo lead to 2-1 as Taylor Motter hit a leadoff doubled to right field and later came around to score on a Mickey McDonald RBI single. The Sod Poodles answered right back in the bottom of the inning as Kohlwey reached on a walk and then stole second base. Peter Van Gansen then singled through the hole at second base to plate Kohlwey and extend the Sod Poodles lead to 3-1.
The RockHounds in the fifth inning plated three runs on three hits to take the 4-3 advantage. Edwin Diaz reached on a walk followed by a Tyler Ramirez single to left-center field to advance Diaz to second base. The next batter would be Motter who worked a walk to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Dan Gamache hit a hard ground ball to first baseman Peter Van Gansen who had a fielding error which allowed Diaz to score. One batter later McDonald roped a two-RBI single to right field.
Torrens started the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field and then scored on a Kohlwey double down the left-field line. Two batters later Van Gansen bashed an RBI single to right-center field to give the Sod Poodles the 5-4 lead.
The Soddies bullpen made up of Carlos Belen and Evan Miller tossed 4.1 innings scoreless innings. Belen went 2.1 innings out of the bullpen and allowed two hits as he earned his first Texas League win. Miller came on in the eighth innings and tossed two no-hit innings and struck out three batters. Miller's efforts earned him his fifth save of the season as he slammed the door on any RockHounds protentional comeback as the Sod Poodles defeated Midland 5-4.
The Sod Poodles continue their four-game series with the RockHounds tomorrow at HODGETOWN. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
NOTES:
Tomorrow's Preview: The Sod Poodles head into game three against the Midland RockHounds on Wednesday evening at HODGETOWN. Jesse Scholtens will take the mound tomorrow for the Sod Poodles and will face off against Midland's righty Grant Holmes. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Unleash Patiño: MLB's No. 33-rated prospect and the San Diego Padres' No. 4-rated prospect (according to MLB.com) right-handed pitcher Luis Patiño, made his Double-A debut in game two against Midland. In four and two-thirds innings of work, the 19-year-old allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.
Baby Rattlesnake: In his Double-A debut, Luis Patiño tossed 71 strikes in 102 pitches. He struck out seven total and allowed four walks, which is just one below his career-high allowed.
Walked Off: The Sod Poodles collected their sixth walk-off victory of the 2019 season with the 11th inning win over Midland in game one.
Soddies in Extras: With their 11th inning victory in game one over Midland, the Sod Poodles improved their extra-inning record to 4-5 on the season.
One-Run Games: The Sod Poodles improved to a 16-15 season record in one-run games with their first two wins both in one-run differences.
Rhythm Broken: After tying for a team-high of four straight losses in Frisco, the Sod Poodles rebounded with a walk-off game one victory over Midland to end the losing rhythm.
Oil-Pan Cup Victors: In regular-season game 26 of 29 against the Midland RockHounds in 2019, the Sod Poodles claimed the season series victory with the walk-off in game one of the series to take a 15-11 advantage. Each season, Amarillo and Midland will face off for the cup.
Streaks End, Good Times Don't: The Sod Poodles ended their sellout streak at 23 straight sellouts and 32 overall in 53 home games. The streak spanned from June 13 to August 4.
Let's Get This Breadnar: Reliever David Bednar has tossed seven straight scoreless outings (8.0 IP). In the last five appearances, Bednar has pitched scoreless ninth innings and picked up a save in four of five. Each of those saves have resulted in retiring the side in order.
Mambo Number 5: Reliever Evan Miller recorded his fifth save for the Sod Poodles Tuesday night in game two of the series.
Double-A Leaders: The Sod Poodles lead all of Double-A baseball with a .262 team batting average this season. They rank second in runs scored this season (567).
Bullpen is Boomin': As a bullpen, Sod Poodles relievers have combined to allow just two earned runs in the last 11 games. That stretch spans 29.2 innings of work, totaling an ERA of 0.61.
Torrens on a Tear: Soddies catcher Luis Torrens has hits in 21 of his last 25 games, including a 16-game hit streak in that span.
Bachar Strong Night: On Saturday, August 17, the Amarillo Sod Poodles are hosting "Bachar Strong" Night in support of right-handed pitcher Lake Bachar's father and his fight with cancer. On Bachar Strong Night, the Sod Poodles will be wearing specialty, Padres throwback color-themed Sod Poodles jerseys with the phrase "No One Fights Alone" on the back and "#BacharStrong" on the sleeve. Following the game, the team will be hosting a live, postgame signed jersey auction with autographed Padres memorabilia graciously donated by the San Diego Padres with all proceeds benefitting the Bachar family's medical expenses.
Full of Talent: The Soddies have three of MLB's top 100 prospects according to MLB.com: #3 MacKenzie Gore, #30 Taylor Trammell, and #33 Patino. They have 8 of the Padres' top 30 prospects, including Owen Miller (13), Hudson Potts (14), Ronald Bolaños (18), Edward Olivares (20), and Buddy Reed (29).
DFW Kid Goes Yard: Sod Poodles infielder Hudson Potts, who grew up in Southlake, TX, hit a solo home run Sunday in Frisco. It was Potts' 12th home run of the season. Potts, who went to Carroll High School (mascot is the Dragons), was the 24th overall pick of the 2016 MLB draft by San Di- ego. Other notable alumni from Potts' high school are Greg McElroy (former Alabama quarterback who won National Championship) and Ross Stripling (current RHP for the Los Angeles Dodgers and 2018 MLB All-Star).
Player Of The Week: Sod Poodles infielder Owen Miller has been tabbed Texas League Player of the Week for the week of July 29-August 4, the Texas League announced. It marks Amarillo's first player ever to earn the weekly honor two times in a season. Over six games on the week, Miller batted .429 (9-for-21) with seven runs, four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and seven RBI with a .500 OBP and struck out one time. On the one-year anniversary week of his signing with the San Diego Padres, from June 10 - 16, the Wisconsin native earned his first Player of the Week honor after he batted .565 (13-for-23) over six games with a double, home run, four RBI, four runs, one walk, and only struck out twice. The 22-year-old, who was named a mid-season All-Star for a second-consecutive season, was signed to his first professional contract out of Illinois State.
Blackout: On Saturday night, Amarillo fell 6-2 after a nearly two-hour power outage delay in Frisco before first pitch. Left-hander Nick Margevicius tossed seven innings and allowed five earned runs. Hudson Potts hit a solo home run (12).
Streak Snapped: With Thursday's defeat, the Soddies had their five-game win streak snapped. The five-game streak matched the longest winning streak of 2019 for Amarillo, with the other streak coming from May 22-26. Amarillo has still won 11 of their last 15 games. Since the start of July, the Soddies have a 24-13 record.
Upcoming: The Sod Poodles hit the road for a week to face Northern competitors Tulsa and Arkansas before returning to HODGETOWN for the last week of the regular season.
Texas League Stories from August 13, 2019
- Drillers Score Season-High 15 Runs in Big Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Sod Poodles Take Two Straight over RockHounds to Begin Homestand - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Travs Shutout Naturals Again - Arkansas Travelers
- Travs Pitching Too Much in 2-0 Loss - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Fall 6-2 in Corpus Christi - Frisco RoughRiders
- Toerner Saves the Day with Another Flying Catch; Cards Win 5-2 in Tulsa - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Fall to Cards in Series Opener - Tulsa Drillers
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