Who You Gonna Call? Brett Vertigan ... Streak-Buster
May 21, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Midland RockHounds Center Fielder Brett Vertigan Talks at Third Base
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Alan Jamison)
Entering Saturday night's game, the RockHounds were looking to end to a seven-game losing streak. The club has also been searching for someone to effectively fill the leadoff spot at the top of the batting order. At least on this night, they found both. Brett Vertigan backed a quality start from Raul Alcantara, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, scoring one run and driving in another, as the RockHounds defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks, 3-1, at Security Bank Ballpark.
In snapping their seven-game "streak of sin" (the term for a losing streak coined by all-time great broadcaster Dan Lovett), the 'Hounds also ended the Hooks' (franchise record) 11-game win streak.
Alcantara was matched against David Paulino, the outstanding Astros' prospect, who entered the game (and departed it, despite a loss) with a sub-two earned run average. Each surrendered at least one run in the first inning, but each pitched shutout ball for the rest of their respective starts.
Alex Bregman singled with one out in the first and, with the defense in a shift for left-handed hitter Derek Fisher, hustled from first to third on a chopper to first base. Bregman then scored on a scary play when J.D. Davis' line drive back up the middle struck Alcantara in the left arm. The 'Hounds right-hander stayed down initially, but remained in the game.
Vertigan and Franklin Barreto led off the home half of the first with back-to-back singles and would score on a ground out and a strikeout (with strike three in the dirt and the throw going to first base). The 2-1 lead held up, with Vertigan's second double of the game driving in Andy Paz with an insurance run in the seventh. Ben Bracewell and Jake Sanchez preserved the win in Alcantara's fifth consecutive outstanding start.
Images from this story
 Midland RockHounds Center Fielder Brett Vertigan Talks at Third Base (Alan Jamison) |
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