Word for the Day: Attrition
Published on August 22, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Ryon Healy of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds)
When Tulsa starter Chris Anderson left after just two innings Friday night, the Drillers were forced to go to their bullpen early in the game. Eleven innings later, Tulsa's bullpen was empty, leaving first baseman Lars Anderson to make his third "emergency" pitching performance of the year (he entered the game 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA), taking the mound in a 1-1 tie in the top of the 14th inning.
The RockHounds greeted Tulsa's first baseman turned reliever with five consecutive base hits. Wade Kirkland singled on Anderson's first pitch and Beau Taylor followed with his second home run in as many nights (see below). Jaycob Brugman, Colin Walsh and Ryon Healy then added back-to-back-to-back singles, with Healy's hit bringing Walsh home with the third run of the inning.
The 'Hounds took a 1-0 lead without benefit of a hit in the fifth. Matt Olson and Bruce Maxwell walked to open the inning, with Olson eventually scoring on a passed ball. Before he took the mound, Anderson had tied the game at 1-1, taking Jonathan Joseph's 1-2 pitch out to right field for a solo home run with two out in the seventh.
Tulsa loaded the bases with one out against Andres Avila in the 12th, but the 'Hounds reliever struck out Brandon Trinkwon and Peter Lavin to end the threat. Avila pitched three scoreless innings for the win, while Anderson (the ninth Drillers pitcher of the night), took the loss.
The RockHounds
... are 37-17 in the second half and 72-52 overall (again setting a new season high at 20 games over .500) ... are 3-1 on their current (six-game) road trip with two games to play in Tulsa ... have won five of their last six, 10-of-12 and 12-of-15 ... are 26-10 in their last 36 games (a .722 winning percentage) ... are 9-1 versus Tulsa in 2015 (5-1 at Security Bank Ballpark an 4-0 at ONEOK Field) ... are 9-3 in extra-inning games (the league's top winning percentage in "overtime" games) ... are 41-22 at Security Bank Ballpark and 31-30 on the road ... are above .500 on the road for the first time since April 16 (1-0) ... are 45-33 vs. the South Division and 27-19 vs. the North.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT OF THE DAY: There have been four, five-hit games by Texas League hitters in 2015 - - - the RockHounds have all four and Ryon Healy has three of them (teammate Jaycob Brugman has the other).
NOTE OF THE DAY: Beau Taylor's game-winning home run in the 14th inning was his second homer in as many nights and came off the Drillers' "emergency reliever," Lars Anderson. Thursday night at Hammons Field in Springfield, Taylor's home run came against Alex Reyes, the St. Louis Cardinals' # 1 prospect (he of the multiple 100 mph radar gun readings).
By the Numbers
Texas League South: The RockHounds and Corpus Christi were winners, with Frisco and San Antonio both falling Friday night. As a result, the 'Hounds magic numbers were reduced by two (playoff berth) and one (second half pennant race ... see below). The RockHounds lead the Hooks (30-24) by seven games ... Frisco (25-28) by 11.5 and San Antonio (24-30) by 13.
Magic numbers:
- Five (5) to clinch a playoff spot (eliminating Frisco) ... any combination of RockHounds wins and RoughRiders losses
- Ten (10) to clinch the second half pennant (over Corpus Christi) ... any combination of RockHounds wins and Hooks losses
Games remaining:
The RockHounds have 16 games to play in the regular season: Frisco (six, three home and three road), Corpus Christi (four, home), San Antonio (four, road) and Tulsa (two, road).
Images from this story
 Ryon Healy of the Midland RockHounds (Frank Longobardo / Midland RockHounds) |
Texas League Stories from August 22, 2015
- Arkansas Holds off San Antonio to Clinch Series - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Take Series with 5-4 W over Missions - Arkansas Travelers
- RoughRiders Even Series with 4-2 Win Before 7,344 Fans - Springfield Cardinals
- Pounders, Naturals Prevail - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Pounders, Naturals Even Series with 2-1 Win over Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Use Long Ball to Take Down Cards - Frisco RoughRiders
- Meet Louie at the AT&T Store Today and Make Dreams Come True - Springfield Cardinals
- Word for the Day: Attrition - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Drop Second 14 Inning Game of the Week - Tulsa Drillers
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