Swing Away ... and Buckle Up
August 6, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Chad Pinder of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Saydee Bailey)
Tuesday, the RockHounds scored five runs on four swings ... all home runs. Wednesday's game started much more "quietly," with the 'Hounds taking an early (2-0) lead over Frisco on a wild pitch and an RBI single. "Small ball" ended at that point.
The clubs scored the game's next 10 runs by exchanging home runs, a total of four, each with at least one man on. The RockHounds held an 8-4 lead after the first four innings, and the teams didn't score again until the ninth, when the Riders rallied to within one run.
Leading, 2-0, in the second, the RockHounds loaded the bases with two out. Chad Pinder sent a drive into the bullpen in right field, a grand slam, to give the 'Hounds a 6-0 lead. Drew Robinson got Frisco on the board with his league-leading 16th home run, a two-run shot to right in the third, and Bruce Maxwell answered with a two-run homer to deep right in the home half of the inning. Trever Adams ended the "home run derby" with a two-run drive over the high wall in left field in the top of the fourth.
Frisco opened the ninth with four consecutive hits against 'Hounds reliever Tucker Healy (see "Stat of the Day," below), scoring three times to draw within 8-7 before leaving the potential tying run in scoring position. The win gave the RockHounds the series victory, two-games-to-one.
The RockHounds
... are 26-14 in the second half and 61-49 overall (matching their season best at 12 games over .500) ... have won 9-of-their-last-12 ... are 15-7 in the season series with the RoughRiders (9-2 at home and 6-5 at Frisco) ... are 36-21 at Security Bank Ballpark and 25-28 on the road ... are 42-32 vs. the South Division and 19-17 vs. the North.
- Texas League South: The RockHounds' lead in the Texas League South remains at three games entering the four-game series at Corpus Christi. The first half champion Hooks (23-17) defeated San Antonio, 6-3 (in 11 innings), in San Antonio Wednesday night. Frisco (18-21) is seven-and-a-half games back with San Antonio (16-24) trailing by 10. There are 30 games remaining in the Texas League regular season.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY: Frisco's ninth-inning rally came at the expense of Tucker Healy, who allowed three runs on four consecutive hits to open the inning, then retired the next three batters to preserve the win. The runs scored by the RoughRiders were the first Tucker has allowed in 23 outings. His scoreless streak covered 28-and-a-third innings in 22 appearances.
- In the last two games of the series, the RockHounds and RoughRiders scored a combined 25 runs, 15 of them scoring on home runs.
- Chad Pinder has hit three home runs in two games, including his second grand slam (and the team's fifth) of the season. Chad has hit in nine straight games (14-for-38, .368) ... has hit in 27 of his last 28 games (45-for-120, .375) ... and leads the Texas League with 68 RBI.
- Ryon Healy is hitting .516 in his last eight games (16-for-31) with three home runs and 12 RBI. In his last 23 games, Ryon is hitting .407 (35-for-86).
- Matt Olson (1-for-4, run, stolen base) is 7-for-16 (.438) in his last seven games and is hitting .317 (13-for-41) in his last 12 games.
- Rangel Ravelo has been promoted to the (AAA) Nashville Sounds and Chad Oberacker (abdominal) has been placed on the disabled list. "Obie" was injured Monday night making a sensational catch in left-center (versus Frisco). The roster spots will be filled Thursday or Friday.
Images from this story
 Chad Pinder of the Midland RockHounds (Saydee Bailey) |
Texas League Stories from August 6, 2015
- Brinson's Huge Night Sends Riders to 9-7 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Win in De Leon's Return - Tulsa Drillers
- - Naturals Fall in Series Opener, 6-2 in Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Texas Rangers Call up Former Rider Luke Jackson - Frisco RoughRiders
- RoughRiders Helping Fans "Beat the Heat" this Weekend in Frisco - Frisco RoughRiders
- Mier, Musgrove at Whataburger Friday - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Starling, Zimmer Named Naturals Players of the Month - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Swing Away ... and Buckle Up - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Erupt in 11th to Cap Sweep - San Antonio Missions
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