Friedrichs Shines in Win Over Missions

A brief "change of venue" may have turned around the season of RockHounds starter Kyle Friedrichs. Since returning from a brief stint with the (Triple-A) Nashville Sounds, the right-hander has won back-to-back quality starts, including Thursday night's 8-2 victory over the San Antonio Missions at Nelson Wolff Stadium.
Sean Murphy and Eli White led the RockHounds, each going 3-for-4 with a double, with "Murph" driving in three runs and Eli two.
Friedrichs (see below) allowed just three hits and two walks over seven innings, pitching effectively to contact and allowing fewer than a handful of hard-hit balls.
The 'Hounds built a 3-0 lead against Missions starter Jerry Keel (see below) before Fernando Tatis, Jr. brought the Missions back to within a run with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. The homer was one of just three hits allowed by Friedrichs over seven innings, and the 'Hounds responded to Tatis' home run with a three-run seventh, re-building the lead to 6-2.
Tyler Marincov's solo home run off the left field foul pole in the eighth pushed the lead to 7-2 (Marincov also had a pair of brilliant catches in right field) and Eli White's second ribbie of the game closed the scoring.
The 'Hounds will bid to split the four-game series in Friday night's finale.
The Missions' lead in the South remains at two games over Corpus Christi after the Hooks suffered a rare loss (2-1) at home to Frisco (the Hooks are now 22-9 at home),
Notables
After an outstanding season debut (one run in six innings against Tulsa on April 9), Kyle Friedrichs struggled to a 1-3 record and a 9.20 earned run average over his next seven starts.   Since returning from (AAA) Nashville, where he made one very solid start, Kyle is 2-0 in a pair of quality starts. He went seven innings in each, allowing two runs (and just three hits against the Missions) for a 2.57 ERA.
"This Game Will Keep You Humble" - - In his first three starts against the RockHounds, San Antonio starter Jerry Keel had allowed a total of three runs (earned) over twenty-one (21.0) innings. He allowed three runs in the first three innings Thursday night. Entering Thursday's game, Keel was 1-0, with a 1.29 ERA in three starts versus the 'Hounds. He was 3-1, with a SEVEN-point 59 (7.59) against the rest of the Texas League.
Eli White (3-for-4, double, two RBI) has reached base in 14 straight games (.82, hits in 12 of the 14) with six doubles, two triples, one HR and 10 RBI.
Sean Murphy (3-for-4, two runs, double, SF, three RBI) has reached base in seven straight games (.346) with six RBI. The double Thursday was his 22^nd of the season, leading the Texas League and tied for third in all of Minor League Baseball.
Richie Martin (1-for-3, two runs, double) has now reached base in 14-of-his-last-15 games (.446) and is hitting .408 in his last 25 games.
Brett Vertigan (1-for-4, two runs, walk, two stolen bases) has reached base in 14 straight games (.276 and 5/5 in SB) … 26-of-28 and in 40-of-43 games (.254 in both).
Seth Brown (1-for-5, RBI) has hits in 11-of-13 games (.340, 15 RBI) and has reached base in 20-of-22 games (.302, 23 RBI).
With two scoreless innings Thursday, Nolan Blackwood has allowed one run in his last 14 appearances. Since seeing his ERA balloon to 8.59 on April 27, the 'Hounds reliever has only the single run over 18-and-two-thirds innings, lowering his ERA to 2.77.
Personnel
Infielder Edwin Diaz has been promoted to the RockHounds from the (Advanced-A) Stockton Ports. The club's roster was at 24, one below the limit of 25 active players, so no counter-move was needed.
In 48 games this season with the California League Ports, Edwin hit .229 with six HR and 15 RBI. He can play any position in the infield. Entering 2018, he had played primarily at shortstop (157 games) and third base (142), with an additional 33 games at second base. With Stockton, he has played 25 games at first base and 21 at third.
Next Game
Friday, June 8        vs. San Antonio Missions
Nelson Wolff Stadium San Antonio, Texas
First pitch 7:05 p.m.    NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 7:00 p.m.
- Final of a four-game series and fourth of an eight-game road trip
- June 8 at San Antonio; June 9-12 at Frisco
Probable Starters
SA: Colin Rea    (RH, MLB re-hab)
RH: Norge Ruiz (RH, 3-5, 4.82)
Next at Security Bank Ballpark
Wednesday, June 13
RockHounds open an eight-game home stand
June 13-16 vs. Corpus Christi Hooks
June 17-20 vs. Frisco RoughRiders