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A Detour on Route 66

Five-run seventh prevents 'Hounds sweep
By Bob Hards
August 14, 2016

Springfield, Missouri, is located on legendary Route 66 and the RockHounds' visit to Hammons Field coincided with the city's annual festival celebrating the historic roadway known as the "Main Street of America." Perhaps it's fitting that Sunday's Texas League game in Springfield took a "detour" in the form of a five-run seventh inning rally, one in which the Cardinals erased a 3-1 deficit en "route" to a 6-3 win.

RockHounds starter Brandon Mann took a 3-1 lead into the seventh, having allowed just two hits (one of them a solo home run to Luke Voit in the fourth), with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Paul DeJong opened the seventh with a solo home run, bringing the Cardinals within a run, and Jonathan Rodriguez turned an 0-2 count into a 2-2 single up the middle, ending Mann's day on the mound.  

Reliever Lou Trivino gave up a single to Voit and (after Luis Cruz's sacrifice bunt) walked Blake Drake intentionally to load the bases. Allen Staton's two-run single to right proved to be the game-winner and a fielder's choice compounded by an error scored a pair of insurance runs.

Tyler Marincov's two-run single (his fourth and fifth RBI of the series) and an RBI single from Viosergy Rosa gave the RockHounds the 3-0 lead in the second, but Cardinals starter Daniel Poncedeleon and reliever Ronnie Shaban combined to retire the next 13 batters. Josh Lucas shut down the 'Hounds' only other threat, striking out Yairo Munoz to end the eighth inning with the bases loaded, earning his 14th save. 

While Springfield's victory in the series finale denied the RockHounds' bid for a second series sweep on their six-game road trip, the club won all three games at Tulsa and took two of three at Springfield. Sunday's game was the 50th of the second half, leaving 20 games in the regular season.

The RockHounds

…   are 34-16 in the second half and 67-53 overall … saw a five-game win streak snapped …. have won five of six and 15 of their last 20 games overall … are 33-25 at Security Bank Ballpark and 34-28 on the road … finished the six-game road trip 5-1, sweeping Tulsa and taking two of three at Springfield … are 10-3 in their last two road trips … are 6-3 in the season series with the Springfield Cardinals (2-1 at Security Bank Ballpark and 4-2 at Hammons Field) … are 26-16 vs. the North Division.

...    saw their lead over San Antonio in the Texas League South Division second half race cut to eight games. San Antonio (26-24) won via shutout for the fifth time in nine games, blanking Northwest Arkansas, 4-0. First half champion Corpus Christi (24-26) moved back to within 10 games with a 7-1 win over Arkansas, while Frisco (18-32) remains 15 games back. There are 20 games remaining in the 2016 Texas League regular season. The 'Hounds face Tulsa (3 games), Springfield (3), Frisco (6), Corpus Christi (4) and San Antonio (4) the rest of the way. 

...    now return home to open a six-game home stand … Tuesday-Friday, August 16-21 … at Security Bank Ballpark. Monday (August 15) is a league-wide off / travel day, with the RockHounds then hosting the two clubs they faced on the road trip.

   -    vs. Tulsa Drillers: Tuesday (6:30 p.m.), Wednesday (6:30 p.m.) and Thursday (7:00 p.m.) at Security Bank Ballpark

   -    vs. Springfield Cardinals: Friday (7:00 p.m.), Saturday (7:00 p.m.) and Sunday (2:00 p.m.) at Security Bank Ballpark

Kibbles & Bits

STAT of the DAY:  Beginning with Joey Hawkins (Springfield's # 9 hitter) in the third inning, Brandon Mann went through the Cardinals lineup, striking out eight of nine batters. The only man he didn't whiff, Luke Voit, hit a solo home run.

-    Andy Paz extended his hit streak to seven games, going 1-for-3 with a run and a walk. In that span, Paz is 14-for-24 for a .583 average.

-   This game will keep you humble - - Matt Chapman entered Sunday's game having gone 7-for-18 (.389), with three doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and four walks in the first five games of the road trip. Chapman then went 0-for-4 Sunday, all four via strikeout. The speed bump notwithstanding, Chapman is hitting .342 (25-for-73) with seven home runs and 22 RBI in his last 20 games. He leads the Texas League in both HR (29) and RBI (83). Willie Calhoun, after hitting two home runs in Tulsa's 11-3 win over Frisco, is second in both categories (25 & 79).