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'Hounds Pick Up Much Needed Win

May 24, 2018

The RockHounds snapped a four-game slide with a little bit of "late night baseball in North Little Rock," defeating the Arkansas Travelers, 9-3, Wednesday night (and almost Thursday morning) at Dickey-Stephens Park.  Leading, 5-2, in the last of the seventh, the RockHounds denied an Arkansas threat in which the Travelers

The RockHounds snapped a four-game slide with a little bit of "late night baseball in North Little Rock," defeating the Arkansas Travelers, 9-3, Wednesday night (and almost Thursday morning) at Dickey-Stephens Park.  
Leading, 5-2, in the last of the seventh, the RockHounds denied an Arkansas threat in which the Travelers had the tying run at the plate with one out.   The 'Hounds then put four runs on the board in the top of the eighth, breaking open an otherwise close game.
Sean Murphy, who returned to the lineup after a two-day absence (see below) and Richie Martin led a 14-hit attack, each with three hits. "Murph" collected his 19th and 20th doubles of the season while scoring one run and driving in two, and Richie continued a torrid run at the dish (see below), going 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple, scoring twice. Brett Vertigan went 2-for-4, scoring three runs and adding a perfect sacrifice bunt … J.P. Sportman had two hits, a stolen base and scored twice and Tyler Ramirez drove in a pair of runs.
Joel Seddon allowed 11 base runners (nine hits, one walk and a hit batsman) but gave up just two runs on Chuck Taylor's fourth-inning single to earn the win.
The start of the game was delayed by one hour (59 minutes to be precise) but went uninterrupted once the first pitch was thrown. The clubs have split the first two games of the quick, three-game set, with the series finale (again with rain in the forecast) set for Thursday evening.
Notables
Richie Martin (3-for-5, two runs, double, triple) is hitting .370 (20-for-51) in his last 12 games, with nine runs, five doubles, one triple, one home run and seven RBI. The 'Hounds shortstop has also reached base in 17-of-his-last-18 games.
                                   
J.P. Sportman (2-for-6, two runs, RBI, stolen base) has hit in 11-of-his-last-12 games (18-49, .367) with four doubles, a home run and seven RBI.
Tyler Marincov (1-for-5, RBI) has hit in five straight games, going 6-for-18, with three doubles, a home run and three RBI.
Sean Murphy was back in the lineup Wednesday (3-for-4, two doubles, one run, two RBI, intentional walk) after rolling an ankle rounding first base on a would-be double Sunday afternoon against San Antonio.
Roster Move
Pitcher Logan Shore has been promoted to the RockHounds from the (Advanced-A) Stockton Ports. The 23-year-old right-hander, Oakland's second round draft choice in 2016, is rated the A's # 10 prospect by Baseball America and # 12 by MLB.com. After joining Stockton on April 29 (from extended spring training), Logan went 2-0, 1.21 in four starts, allowing 18 hits in 22-and-a-third innings. He walked just two batters while striking out 25 for a 0.90 WHIP. At the University of Florida, Logan was a teammate of fellow A's prospect (and former RockHound) A.J. Puk and was the Gators' Saturday starter. The Minnesota native (Coon Rapids), who now makes his home in Gainesville, Florida, will make his Double-A debut in Thursday night's series finale at North Little Rock.
Next Game
Thursday, May 24 vs. Arkansas Travelers
Dickey-Stephens Park            North Little Rock, Arkansas
First pitch 7:10 p.m.    NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 7:00 p.m.
- Final of a three-game series and third of a six-game road trip
- May 24 at Arkansas; May 25-27 at Northwest Arkansas
Probable Starters
ARK:                        Anthony Misiewicz      (LH, 1-3, 5.76)
RH: Logan Shore   (see above)
Next at Security Bank Ballpark
May 29-June 3       vs. Arkansas Travelers & Northwest Arkansas Naturals