Three Thousand Wins and a Heckuva "Draw"
May 11, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Center Fielder Jaycob Brugman
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Shawn E. Davis)
The RockHounds went by "the book" (play five hundred baseball on the road) and found a place in the record book on Tuesday night, defeating the Frisco RoughRiders, 5-3, to gain a split of the first series meeting of the year between the clubs (the top two teams so far in the 2016 Texas League). The victory also made franchise history --- win number 3,000 (see "Milestone," below).
Franklin Barreto broke out of a 1-for-20 slump with a two-run single in the third, breaking a scoreless tie, and scored on Jaycob Brugman's double moments later to give the 'Hounds a 3-0 advantage. With the weather turning, in a word, nasty, the Riders scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to draw to within 3-2. A thunderstorm then hit, delaying the game for 33 minutes.
On the first pitch after the rain delay, Yairo Munoz ripped a critical solo home run to left field, re-building the lead to 4-2 and taking away Frisco's momentum. Ryon Healy's league-leading 32nd RBI (on a double down the left field line) pushed the lead to 5-2 in the seventh.
Raul Alcantara went the first five innings to earn the win, allowing two (unearned) runs. Ryan Gorton (see below) made his Double-A debut with a scoreless sixth (after the rain delay) and Andres Avila pitched two perfect innings (with four strikeouts). Jake Sanchez allowed a run in the ninth, then ended the game with a ground out and a three-pitch strikeout of Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
The two-run decision was the first in the four-game set after three consecutive one-run games.
The RockHounds
... are 19-13 (10-4 at Security Bank Ballpark and 9-9 on the road) and are 2-2 on their (eight-game) road trip.
... are back to within 4.5 games of first-place Frisco in the Texas League South Division. Corpus Christi, a 5-3 winner (at home) over San Antonio, movs back to within seven games of the RoughRiders, while the San Antonio Missions remain 13.5 games back.
Kibbles & Bits
MILESTONE The RockHounds' win made the franchise the ninth in Texas League history to win 3,000 (or more) games. The franchise (Cubs-Angels-RockHounds) now has a combined win total of exactly 3,000 (the RockHounds have 1,245).
STAT OF THE DAY
- Viosergy Rosa (3-for-4) has reached base 19 straight games (23-for-70, .329 average with a .447 OBP), and has hit in eight of his last nine contests.
ROSTER MOVES Â
- Reliever Aaron Kurcz has been promoted to (Triple-A) Nashville. Kurcz went 4-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 11 games with the RockHounds, converting four-of-five save opportunities. Reliever Ryan Gorton joined the RockHounds Monday from (extended spring training) and made his Double-A debut Tuesday with a scoreless sixth inning. Selected by Oakland in the 31st round of the 2012 June draft as a catcher (Oregon State University), but converted to the mound as a pro last season (he pitched through much of his college career). He pitched at the Rookie, Short-A and Single-A levels last season, going 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA, and a 1.06 WHIP, striking out 30 batters in 26.1 innings. Gorton fills the roster spot created when Dylan Covey was placed on the DL (left oblique strain). Covey's spot is expected to be filled later this week.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Center Fielder Jaycob Brugman (Shawn E. Davis) |
Texas League Stories from May 11, 2016
- Anderson's 11th Inning Pinch Hit Gives Drillers Walk-Off Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Walk off on Travs, Again, at ONEOK - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Offer $4 Group Nights for Tuesday and Wednesday Games - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Three Thousand Wins and a Heckuva "Draw" - Midland RockHounds
- Down Four, Travs Battle Back & Snap Skid - Arkansas Travelers
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