Epic! RockHounds Rally To Win, 11-10

RockHounds 11, Amarillo Sod Poodles 10 (10 innings)

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Momentum Bank Ballpark

This is the franchise’s 50th year and 49th season … so to say that Sunday’s game saw one of the most remarkable comebacks in team history is a major statement.

Trailing Amarillo, 10-0, going into the last of the eighth inning, the RockHounds scored 10 runs in the eighth and walked off in the 10th on Mickey McDonald’s two-out single to center field.

When Buddy Kennedy homered for the second time (the Amarillo third baseman had a huge day with a pair of home runs, a triple, and four RBI), the Sod Poodles had pushed their lead to 10-0 in the top of the eighth.

Max Schuemann opened the home half of the inning with a single … just the fourth hit of the game for the RockHounds. Logan Davidson followed with a single and Jonah Bride’s double got the ‘Hounds on the board. JJ Schwarz reached on an error, with Davidson scoring, and Kyle McCann doubled in the gap to left-center to make the score 10-3 (it’s noteworthy that each of the first four hits in the inning came with two strikes in the count).

Jake Suddleson drew a walk and Blake Workman replaced reliever Shumpei Yoshikawa, who had opened the inning. Collin Theroux sent Workman’s second pitch into the right field bullpen, a three-run home run that brought the ‘Hounds to within 10-7.

Sod Poodles second baseman Osvaldo Abreu then robbed Chase Calabuig of a hit with a brilliant play up the middle (one which would eventually save at least one run) and Workman struck out Devin Foyle, leaving the bases empty with two out.

Schuemann was hit by a pitch and Davidson and Bride followed with singles (the second hit of the inning for both), with Schuemann scoring. Schwarz then sent a game-tying, two-run double to deep right field … capping an amazing 10-run inning.

Aaron Brown kept the Sod Poodles off the board in the ninth and 10th (the latter including the designated runner at second base to open extra innings) and earned the win.

The ‘Hounds loaded the bases with no outs in the home half of the 10th, but Blake Rogers got two outs on a fly ball to shallow left and a ground ball with the play at the plate. McDonald, who entered the game as a pinch-runner for Schwarz in the eighth, then ripped a single up the middle … and an astounding comeback was complete.

The RockHounds won the series, 4-2, and have now won 11-of-their-last-13 games.

Kibbles & Bits / Perspective on the Comeback

In 1996, the Angels trailed the El Paso Diablos, 16-2, going to the last of the 4th inning at Christensen Stadium. The Angels whittled away and ended up winning the game, 17-16, on Aaron Guiel’s walk-off single in the last of the ninth.

Tom Kayser (who was league president at that time and remains perhaps its most authoritative historian) believed it to be the largest comeback on Texas League history. Sunday’s comeback … down 10-0 in the eighth … certainly rivals the “epic” rally of ’96.

Next Game: Tuesday, July 20

RockHounds vs. Corpus Christi Hooks

First of a six-game series and seventh of a 12-game homestand

First Pitch at 6:30

Two-for-Tickets with a coupon from Baskin-Robbins

Next at Rocky Town

The RockHounds host the Corpus Christi Hooks in a six-game series at Momentum Bank Ballpark (Tuesday through Sunday), including:

Thirsty Thursday (July 22), Jesus Luzardo Bobbleheads (Friday, July 23) and Saturday night fireworks (Saturday, July 24).