Beautiful Beach Ball; 'Hounds Win 6th Straight

RockHounds 9, Corpus Christi Hooks 0

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Whataburger Field Corpus Christi, TX

Jhonny Santos drove in five runs on two swings and a trio of pitchers combined for a six-hit shutout as the RockHounds blanked the Hooks, 9-0, Saturday night at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.

The win was the ‘Hounds’ fifth straight in the series at Corpus Christi and the club’s sixth straight win overall.

The game was a pitcher’s duel early, a scoreless tie entering the top of the fourth when Jeremy Eierman drew a one-out walk against Hooks starter Jonathan Bermudez. Eierman then stole second base and went to third on a wild pitcher before scoring the game’s first run on Jake Suddleson’s soft line drive to left field over a drawn-in Hooks infield.

With the score still 1-0, JJ Schwarz extended his on-base streak to 19 games with a leadoff single to open the sixth and Eierman doubled on a line drive to left. Collin Theroux walked, and Devin Foyle collected a “painful” RBI with a bases-loaded hit by pitch for a 2-0 advantage. Santos followed with a bases-clearing, three-run double to break the game open.

Eierman (who went 3-for-4 and scored three times) doubled with two out in the seventh and Suddleson (2-for-5, two RBI) followed with a triple and scored on Kyle McCann’s single to right.

Santos (who matched his career high with five ribbies) capped the scoring with a two-run home run, his third of the year … two of them in this series.

Bryce Conley, Matt Milburn and Aiden McIntyre combined on the six-hitter.

Conley (4-4, 4.27 … see “Kibbles & Bits,” below) went five innings for the win, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four. Milburn, in his second appearance since being assigned to the RockHounds from (AAA) Las Vegas, pitched three near-perfect innings, allowing one hit with one whiff. McIntyre escaped a jam in the ninth, when the Hooks got back-to-back singles to open the inning.

The ‘Hounds ended the game by turning their fourth double play of the game, this one the (somewhat unusual) 5-3-5 … with third baseman Logan Davidson and first baseman McCann combing to seal the shutout. Bermudez, who allowed just two of the nine runs, took the loss.

Including the Fourth of July win to wrap up the series at Frisco, the RockHounds have won six straight entering Sunday evening’s series … and road trip … and 24-of-30 stretch on the road … finale at Corpus Christi (5:05 first pitch).

Kibbles & Bits

In his two starts on the road trip (one at Frisco and Saturday night at Corpus Christi), Bryce Conley has pitched nine scoreless innings, allowing just five hits (six walks and six strikeouts). He didn’t qualify for the win at Frisco on the Fourth of July (four innings pitched) but was the starter in a 3-1 RockHounds victory before earning the win in Saturday’s shutout.

Next Game

Sunday, July 11 vs. Corpus Christi Hooks

Whataburger Field Corpus Christi, Texas

First pitch 5:05 p.m.

Final of a six-game series and of a 12-game road trip

*Probable Starters *

CC Jimmy Endersby (RH, 2-1, 3.60)

RH Ty Damron (LH, 0-2, 7.04)

The Road & (Back To) Rocky Town

The RockHounds’ stretch of 24-of-30 games on the road is almost over!

• At Corpus Christi Hooks Sunday (5:05).

The ‘Hounds return to Momentum Bank Ballpark Tuesday to open a 12-game homestand, hosting the Amarillo Sod Poodles (July 13-18) & Corpus Christi Hooks (July 20-25) .