White Follows Up Pomeranz With Shutout
First Verse (Wednesday): Drew Pomeranz, acquired by the Colorado Rockies from the Cleveland Indians in the high-profile trade of (former Tulsa Driller) Ubaldo Jimenez, tossed seven shutout innings as the Tulsa Driller shut out the 'Hounds, 6-0. Pomeranz, rated Cleveland's # 4 prospect entering the season, pitched with key members of the Rockies front office in town to watch the game, and the Denver Post newspaper there to cover the story. Hector Gomez backed the left-hander with a solo home run.
Second Verse (Thursday): Alex White, acquired by the Colorado Rockies from the Cleveland Indians in the high-profile trade of (former Tulsa Driller) Ubaldo Jimenez, tossed seven-and-two-thirds shutout innings as the Tulsa Driller shut out the 'Hounds, 8-0. White, rated Cleveland's # 2 prospect entering the season, pitched with key members of the Rockies front office in town to watch the game, and the Denver Post newspaper there to cover the story. Hector Gomez backed the right-hander with a solo home run.
Yep ... second verse, (pretty much) same as the first.
White, who has pitched at Triple-A and (three games) in the big leagues with Cleveland this season, is with Tulsa on a Major League re-hab assignment. And, like Pomeranz, he got some outstanding defensive help.
Trailing, 1-0, in the top of the third inning, the RockHounds got a lead-off single from Jeremy Barfield, followed by a Ryan Ortiz double to left-center. Barfield was waved home, but was thrown out on a good relay throw from Gomez and a solid play by catcher Wilin Rosario, who made the tag and held on to the ball despite a solid collision with the 6-5, 240-pound Barfield. After the play at the plate, White went on to retire the next 14 batters he faced.
After denying the game-tying run, the Drillers then, for all intents and purposes, put the game away in the home half of the third, when Gomez and Ben Paulsen hit back-to-back solo home runs off RockHounds starter Lenny DiNardo. Rosario added a monster, 2-run home run off Brett Hunter in the sixth.
- Insult to injury ... Grant Green saw his 15-game hit streak come to an end (0-for-4).
- In the South Division: Division-leading san Antonio was the only South Division club to win, defeating Springfield, 6-2 at Nelson Wolff Stadium in the Alamo City. NW Arkansas edged Frisco, 5-4, and Arkansas clobbered Corpus Christi, 12-0.
San Antonio's lead over the RockHounds is now five games, with Frisco six games out and Corpus Christi 13 back.
There are 18 games remaining in the 2001 Texas League season.
ROCKY TOWN - The RockHounds conclude a 3-game series at Tulsa, Oklahoma, Friday evening at 7:05, followed by a 3-game set (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Springdale, Arkansas.
The final home stand of 2011 opens Tuesday, August 23. Check the web site for special events, (Thirsty Thursday, fireworks, team photos and more) and we look forward to seeing you at Rocky Town! Check out all the details at www.midlandrockhounds.org.