Sod Poodles Fall To RockHounds In Inaugural Home Opener

AMARILLO, Texas - In their inaugural home opener at HODGETOWN, the Sod Poodles succumbed to the Midland RockHounds by a score of 9-4 in extra innings. 
Following a scoreless two frames to start the first game with two hits apiece, Sod Poodles' leadoff man and centerfielder Buddy Reed slugged his first home run of 2019, marking the first-ever home run in Amarillo at HODGETOWN, putting the home squad up 1-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, the RockHounds found momentum with two outs. After a leadoff double by Mikey White and two quick outs following, Greg Deichmann singled to plate White while Jonah Heim backed him up with a two-run home run to right field, extending their lead to 3-1.
 
After Midland added a solo run in the top of the fifth, the Sod Poodles found an offensive rhythm. Brad Zunica, who's had a hot start the season, led off the inning with a home run, his third in five games. A second run was plated on Reed's sacrifice fly, scoring Edward Olivares, who doubled, minimizing the home deficit to a run.
 
Then, in the Sod Poodles' sixth, Jorge Oña took RockHounds Norge Ruiz deep to left field to tie the affair up at 4-4, notching his first home run of the season.
 
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Sod Poodles threatened but couldn't plate the winning run. So, on Opening Night at HODGETOWN, the Sod Poodles and RockHounds headed to extra innings.
 
In the top of the tenth, Midland pushed five runs across via the bats of Luis Barrera, Anthony Miller, Dairon Blanco, and a long ball from Deichmann to give the RockHounds the 9-4 lead. Amarillo couldn't produce any runs in the bottom half of the inning and fell to the RockHounds by the score.
 
The Sod Poodles and RockHounds continue into game two of the three-game set tomorrow night at HODGETOWN. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Gates are scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m.
 
 
NOTES
A Game of Firsts: The Sod Poodles collected a bounty of firsts in their inaugural home opener on April 8: First hit (Owen Miller, Bottom 1), First Home Run and RBI (Buddy Reed, Bottom 3), First Stolen Base (Jorge Oña, Bottom 2).
 
Count it, Buddy Reed:  Buddy Reed slugged his first round-tripper of the season - a solo shot to the right-field corner. Last season, Reed knocked 13 home runs.
 
Lawson's First Outing: Despite collecting his first loss of 2019 in his first start, Reggie Lawson dialed in against Midland batters, striking out eight RockHounds' bats, just one shy from tying his career-high of nine (July 21, 2017 @ Clinton).
 
The Zunica Show: Sod Poodles first baseman Brad Zunica has continued his 2019 tear. In the first five games of the season, Zunica is 8-for-17 with three home runs, five RBI, and three walks. The Illinois native belted 17 home runs and 60 RBI with High-A Lake Elsinore in 2018.
Another In Extras: The Sod Poodles played their second extra-innings game in three days. Amarillo is now 0-2 in extra-inning battles through 10 innings in each.  
 
Homer Happy: The Sod Poodles belted three homers on Sunday afternoon at Whataburger Field (Miller, Oña, Olivares) and duplicated it Monday night in the Amarillo home opener at HODGETOWN (Reed, Zunica, Oña).
 
The Mighty 'Pen: In the first four games of 2019, the Sod Poodles bullpen has allowed just one earned run in 16.1 combined innings. In game five, despite a five-spot in extra innings allowed by David Bednar, Sod Poodles relievers Tyler Higgins and Trevor Megill held down the fort following Lawson's exit, combining four innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts.
 
Tomorrow's Preview: The Sod Poodles head into their second-ever game at HODGETOWN against the Midland RockHounds at 7:05 p.m. On the mound for the Sod Poodles will be right-hander Emmanuel Ramirez (0-0) and face up against fellow righty James Naile (1-0).