To Paraphrase Neil Armstrong
August 30, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Picher Sean Manaea
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
"... that's one big swing for Anthony Aliotti and one giant leap for the RockHounds."
Not to compare a ball landing on the right field grass berm at Rocky Town to Apollo 11 landing on the Moon, but "Ali's" swing, a two-run home run, was the decisive moment in a win that brought the RockHounds to the brink of a second half championship.
On back-to-back at-bats in the sixth, the RockHounds broke a scoreless tie and went on to defeat the Frisco RoughRiders, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game series at Security Bank Ballpark. Chad Pinder's leadoff double was followed by Aliotti's two-run home run, a shot to the right field berm on a 3-2 pitch from Juan Grullon.
Alex Burg brought the RoughRiders to within a run with a ninth inning solo home run off Brendan McCurry, but the 'Hounds closer came back to get a ground out and a pair of strikeouts to slam the door, earning his fourth save in as many chances.
Sean Manaea was outstanding (again), going seven shutout innings for the 'Hounds, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out seven. Acquired from the Kansas City Royals at the July trade deadline (he was the key player going to Oakland in the Ben Zobrist deal), Sean is now 5-0, with a 2.21 earned run average in six starts with the RockHounds.
While all three of the game's runs were produced by the two home run swings, both clubs had opportunities early on, stranding a combined 13 base runners (and each club grounding into a double play) in the game's first seven innings.
The win brings the RockHounds' "magic number" for winning the Texas League South second half title to two (any combination of 'Hounds wins and/or Corpus Christi losses totaling two).
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Picher Sean Manaea (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from August 30, 2015
- Drillers Beaten 4-2 by Cardinals - Tulsa Drillers
- Walks Burn Travs in 7-2 Sunday Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- Moran Delivers Winner in Eighth - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Adams Helps Naturals Even Series against Travs - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Numbers Du Jour: 8,000,000 & One - Midland RockHounds
- Adams, Brinson Homer in Riders' Loss to Hounds - Frisco RoughRiders
- To Paraphrase Neil Armstrong - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Fall to Reyes and Cardinals - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Cling to 3-2 Win in Tulsa - Springfield Cardinals
- Reed Leads Hooks Power Surge - Corpus Christi Hooks
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