Strangest Stat of the Season
Published on June 18, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
J.P. Sportman (left) went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the RockHounds' 3-2 loss in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the San Antonio Missions, while Tyler Marincov (right) drove in the only run of game two with a RBI double to give the 'Hounds a 1-0 win. (Forrest Allen)
Neither the RockHounds or San Antonio Missions will win the South Division first half title (the Corpus Christi Hooks popped the champagne corks with a win at Frisco on Thursday night) and, with both clubs double-digits out of the top spot, it would be very easy to "go through the motions" over the last few games of the season's first half. Instead, the teams exchanged one-run decisions on Friday night at Security Bank Ballpark, with San Antonio rallying for the win in the opener and the 'Hounds taking the nightcap, 1-0, on a two-hit shutout.
Along the way, they battled, with hitters not "giving in" (here's your stat) - - - the clubs, combined, fouled off 42 pitches with two strikes in the count (San Antonio's Nelson Ward, alone, fouled off nine in two bats in game two), not "going gentle into that goodnight."
J.P. Sportman's two-run double in the third inning gave the 'Hounds a 2-1 lead in the opener, but the Missions rallied back to tie the game in the seventh on a beautifully manufactured run. Singles from Nick Torres and Nick Schulz were followed by River Stevens' sacrifice bunt (on a 1-2 pitch) and a sac fly (on an 0-2 pitch) from Taylor Lindsey. The Missions then scored the game-winner in the eighth on Jose Rondon's single.
Tyler Marincov drove in the only run of the nightcap with a two-out first inning single, scoring Viosergy Rosa, and Ben Bracewell went four scoreless innings in a spot start (the first of his pro career). He combined with Kris Hall and Jake Sanchez on a (seven-inning) two-hitter.
The clubs, who meet again next weekend at Security Bank Ballpark (games 3-6 of the second half), have split the first four of the five-game set.
Texas League Stories from June 18, 2016
- Seventh-Inning Woes Crush Riders in Second Straight Game - Frisco RoughRiders
- Nielsen and 1st-Place Cards Blank Naturals, 1-0, for Series Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Shutout by Cardinals in Series Finale - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Royals Outfielder Alex Gordon to Rehab with Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - June 18, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Grand Slam Propels Hooks Past RoughRiders - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - June 17, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Strangest Stat of the Season - Midland RockHounds
- RoughRiders Shut out in Game Two of Doubleheader - Frisco RoughRiders
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