Y'All Come Back Now, Ya Hear?
Published on July 8, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
Chad Oberacker of the Midland RockHounds
(Midland RockHounds, Credit: Saydee Bailey)
The three-game mini-series at Security Bank Ballpark between the RockHounds and Northwest Arkansas was filled with comebacks - - - the 'Hounds trailed in each game before rallying back to earn a series sweep, while the Naturals closed to within one run in the ninth inning in the both of the final two games of the set before falling. The RockHounds' total margin of victory in the series was three runs.
The Naturals sent ten men to the plate in the second inning for a 5-0 lead Tuesday, a rally highlighted by a two-run double from Raul Mondesi (the Kansas City Royals' # 1 prospect). The 'Hounds chipped back with three manufactured runs, drawing to within 5-3 after four innings.
Terrance Gore's seventh consecutive hit (he went 4-for-4 Monday and had hits in his first three trips to the plate Tuesday) pushed the Naturals' lead back to 6-3 in the top of the fifth. In the home half of the frame, the RockHounds exploded for a five-run inning of their own.
Colin Walsh greeted reliever J.C. Sulbaran with a solo home run to the right field grass berm and Josh Whitaker and Renato Nuñez followed with back-to-back singles, the latter on an 0-2 pitch. Matt Olson and Bruce Maxwell had RBI hits to tie the game at 6-6, and Chad Oberacker capped the inning with a two-run single to right, giving the 'Hounds an 8-6 lead. Chad Pinder's team-high 45th RBI, a sixth inning single bringing in Nuñez (who had doubled), proved to be the game-winner.
An error by Nuñez and a double by Alex Liddi set the table for another Northwest Arkansas ninth-inning rally (both runs were unearned), bringing the Naturals to within 9-8 before Seth Frankoff closed the door for his fourth save of the season in five opportunities.
Speaking of "coming back," the RockHounds will do exactly that on Wednesday, July 15, returning to Security Bank Ballpark following a six-game road trip which opens Wednesday night in North Little Rock against the Arkansas Travelers.
The RockHounds
... are 9-3 in the second half and 44-38 overall ... the six games over .500 is a new season high (both in the second half and overall) ... have won 9-of-their-last-11 ... claimed their fourth series sweep of the season ... went 5-1 in their (six-game) home stand ... are 6-3 against Northwest Arkansas (5-1 at home and 1-2 on the road) ...are 26-16 at Security Bank Ballpark and 18-22 on the road ... are 27-25 vs. the South Division and 17-13 vs. the North ... lead Frisco (6-6) by three games, Corpus Christi (5-7) by four and San Antonio (4-7) by four-and-a-half.
Kibbles & BIts
STAT OF THE DAY: The RockHounds have achieved remarkable balance in run production - - - each of the top eight batters in Tuesday's lineup has driven in at least 30 runs: Chad Pinder (45), Matt Olson (38), Josh Whitaker (37), Jaycob Brugman (35), Colin Walsh (33), Renato Nuñez (32), Chad Oberacker (31) and Bruce Maxwell (31).
In addition, Ryon Healy has driven in 29 runs. Ryon was injured Saturday after being struck in the face by a bad-hop ground ball. While undergoing treatment, he will not accompany the club on the road trip.
- Matt Angle's second-inning single extended his on-base streak to 25 games (.273 with a .412 OBP). The streak is the third-longest in the Texas League this season, trailing only San Antonio's Travis Jankowski (27 games) and Trea Turner (29).
- Renato Nuñez went 2-for-5 (double, two runs) and has now hit in 12-of-13 games (.367) and is hitting .325 in his last 18 games.
- Chad Oberacker went 2-for-4 with a double, walk and three RBI ... Matt Olson (2-for-4, double, hit by pitch) scored three runs and stole his second base of the year ... Bruce Maxwell went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI ... Chad Pinder went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Images from this story
 Chad Oberacker of the Midland RockHounds (Saydee Bailey) |
Texas League Stories from July 8, 2015
- Drillers Overcome Travel Issues, Beat Hooks - Tulsa Drillers
- Needy and Rondon Shine in San Antonio's Series-Opening Win over Springfield - San Antonio Missions
- Wednesday's RoughRiders-Naturals Game Postponed - Frisco RoughRiders
- Tonight's Game against Frisco Postponed - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RoughRiders to Play on CBS Sports Network July 9 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Y'All Come Back Now, Ya Hear? - Midland RockHounds
- Homestand Highlights: July 8 - July 13 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- 14 Hits Not Enough, Frisco Takes Series - Arkansas Travelers
- Springfield Shutout Secures Sweep - Corpus Christi Hooks
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