When in Doubt ... Shut 'Em Out
Published on July 12, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Pitcher Jonathan Joseph
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Saydee Bailey)
Entering Saturday evening's game at Springdale, Arkansas, the RockHounds (a) were searching for offense on their road trip, (b) were down to a one-man bench and (c) were playing without two of their top players (details, below). The solution? Toss a shutout.
The 'Hounds scored twice in the top of the first, and the clubs would post 17 goose-eggs the rest of the way, as Jonathan Joseph, Tucker Healy and Ryan Dull combined on a five-hitter in the opener of a three-game series at Arvest Ballpark.
Joseph went seven innings (for the second consecutive start), allowing five hits and one walk while striking out five, in his finest performance to date with the 'Hounds. Healy tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning for the hold and Dull closed the game for his eighth save in as many opportunities.
After receiving his first promotion to the Double-A level in his tenth professional season, Joseph continues to provide one of the best storylines of the season. The native of the Dominican Republic made 13 relief appearances before moving into the rotation, and has been outstanding in both roles. Saturday's seven scoreless innings lowered Jonathan's ERA to 2.45.
Matt Angle (see below) led off the game with a single to left and advanced to second on Chad Oberacker's sacrifice bunt. Angle stole third and, after a walk to Rangel Ravelo, scored the game's first run when second baseman Alex Liddi misplayed Bruce Maxwell's sharp grounder. Colin Walsh followed with an RBI single to left driving in Ravelo with the game's second (and final) run.
Joseph walked the first batter he faced (Ramon Torres), but the free pass was wiped away on a nicely-turned (5-4-3) double play, from Wade Kirkland to Walsh to Ravelo. Hunter Dozier doubled with one out in the sixth and Frank Schwindel sent a high drive to left with two outs, but the drive fell just short of the wall, caught by Jaycob Brugman to end the inning.
Dull walked Jorge Bonifacio with one out in the ninth, with Terrence Gore entering the game as a pinch runner. Gore (among the fastest runners in baseball) stole second, narrowly beating Maxwell's strong throw. Chad Pinder then (with Gore the runner) likely saved a run with a tremendous play on Lane Adams' ground ball to the hole at shortstop for the second out, and Dull struck out Zane Evans to slam the door.
The RockHounds
... are 10-6 in the second half and 45-41 overall ... snapped a three-game slide ... are 1-3 on their (six-game) road trip ... recorded their ninth shutout of the season (the club is 9-7 in shutout games) ... are 7-3 versus NW Arkansas (5-1 at home and 2-2 at Arvest Ballpark) ... are 26-16 at Security Bank Ballpark and 19-25 on the road ... are 27-25 vs. the South Division and 18-16 vs. the North.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY / THIS GAME IS GOOFY
Friday, Matt Angle's 27-game on-base streak ended (0-for-3) when former RockHound D'Arby Myers made a tremendous catch on a drive to the left field wall in the seventh at Dickey-Stephens Park. Two pitches into Saturday's game, Matt was back on base. His line drive single to left, followed by his 14th stolen base of the season, turned into the game's first run. Angel reached base twice Saturday, going 1-for-3 with a walk.
- The RockHounds are without Renato Nuñez and Matt Olson for the three-game series at NW Arkansas. The pair will represent the RockHounds and Oakland Athletics at the All-Star Futures Game (Sunday) at Great American Ballpark in in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- With Nuñez and Olson on the temporarily inactive list, the 'Hounds are down to 10 position players for the weekend. Josh Whitaker was "the bench" Saturday, and he is not at 100% after turning his left ankle while in pursuit of a fly ball Wednesday night at Little Rock.
- Rangel Ravelo has joined the RockHounds and was in the lineup Saturday night (0-for-3, walk, run, two strikeouts). Acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the Jeff Samardzija trade (December 9, 2014), the 23-year-old native of LaHabana, Cuba, entered the season rated Oakland's # 8 prospect by Baseball America. He is recovering from surgery, performed in March, on his right wrist.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Pitcher Jonathan Joseph (Saydee Bailey) |
Texas League Stories from July 12, 2015
- Hooks Reel in 6-3 Win against Cardinals - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Beat Missions 6-2 - Tulsa Drillers
- Westwood Wins Sixth - Corpus Christi Hooks
- J.T. Wise's Blast Sends Frisco to Fifth Straight Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Midland Defeats Northwest Arkansas on Sunday Night - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Pull Away Late to Beat Missions - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Comeback Falls a Run Shy, Saturday - Arkansas Travelers
- Travs Comeback Falls a Run Shy, Saturday - Arkansas Travelers
- When in Doubt ... Shut 'Em Out - Midland RockHounds
- Corpus Christi Hooks 6-4 Win in Series Opener - Springfield Cardinals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
