Tortoise & the Hare ... But this Time the Hare Won
April 14, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
In the Aesop's Fable, the rabbit (hare) jumps out to a huge lead, but the "slow and steady" turtle (tortoise) keeps on truckin' (very slowly, of course) and crosses the finish line first. In Monday night's Texas League version of the story, the rabbit held on for the victory.
The Arkansas Travelers raced to a 6-0 first-inning lead, then withstood two RockHounds comebacks for an 8-7 win at Security Bank Ballpark. The Travs stayed perfect, winning their fifth straight to open the season, while the 'Hounds (2-3) dropped their third-in-a-row.
Arkansas sent 10 men to the plate in the six-run first, with five batters driving in at least one run (Anthony Bemboom's grounder between third and short drove in a pair). RockHounds starter Chris Lamb, making his Double-A debut, got ahead of leadoff batter Sherman Johnson with an 0-2 count before Johnson sent a 1-2 pitch to left-center. Bobby Crocker narrowly missed a brilliant diving catch, and the Travelers were "off and running" to the 6-0 advantage.
The RockHounds chipped away with single runs in the second and third, then scored three times on a pair of home runs in the fifth inning. Chad Oberacker's leadoff fly ball to right field was pushed out by winds gusting to 30 miles-per-hour, and Matt Olson capped the inning with a two-run shot to right-center, cutting Arkansas' lead to 6-5.
After the Travelers scored twice in the seventh, the 'Hounds again closed within a run with a two-run rally aided by five walks from the Arkansas bullpen. Two of the walks came with the bases loaded, making the score 8-7, still with just one out. But the RockHounds couldn't push the tying run across, leaving the bases full, and Trevor Gott pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to end the game.
Matt Olson broke out of a 1-for-10 stretch, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Rated one of Oakland's top two prospects by virtually every major source, the 21-year-old first baseman hit 37 home runs with 97 RBI last season at (Advanced-A) Stockton.
Colin Walsh extended his on-base streak to 30 games, going 1-for-3 (with two walks). The unusual streak includes his last 25 games with the RockHounds in 2014 and the first five games this season.
Chad Oberacker is 5-for-10 to open the season, with a triple, a solo home run and a team-high six runs batted in.
Outfielder Matt Angle has been assigned to the RockHounds from (AAA) Nashville. The move was precipitated by the return of A's outfielder Josh Reddick. With the Sounds, Angle appeared in two games, going 3-for-7 with one run scored, two walks, two strikeouts and one stolen base. Matt was Baltimore's seventh round draft choice (Ohio State) in 2007, and played in 31 games for the Orioles at the Major League level in 2011 (.177 with one home run and seven RBI). He signed with the A's as a free agent in January, 2015. Oakland also announced the release of (OF) Ryan Mathews.
In keeping with the "Tortoise and the Hare" theme ... Arkansas and Corpus Christi have busted out of the gates, each leading its respective division by three games just five games into the Texas League season. Both the Travelers and Hooks are 5-0 and will bid to complete perfect season-opening road trips on Tuesday night. Corpus Christi, a 6-3 winner at Tulsa Monday night, will bid for a three-game sweep of the Drillers, and the Travelers (after taking three at Frisco to open the year) will try to make it three-in-a-row at Security Bank Ballpark.
Texas League Stories from April 14, 2015
- Drillers Stave off Late CC Rally - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Walmart, Naturals Partner on Military Appreciation Program - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Seager, Anderson Lead Drillers to Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Missions Edge Cardinals in Homestand Finale - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Take Series Finale over Roughriders, 6-2 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Bonifacio Belts Naturals to 6-2 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Announce 2015 Additions to Arvest Ballpark - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Receive Kyuji Fujikawa on Rehab Assignment - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions Bats Come Alive in 5-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Tortoise & the Hare ... But this Time the Hare Won - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Match Best Start in Club History - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hooks Walk Past Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Win Again, Go for Series Sweep Tuesday - Frisco RoughRiders
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