Luzardo Strikes Out Ten in Shutout Win

At this stage of his career, Jesus Luzardo is one of the top pitching prospects in the game. To the RockHounds, he is also a "stopper."
The 20-year-old left-hander turned in another outstanding performance, combining with three relievers on a five-hit shutout as the RockHounds defeated the Cardinals, 3-0, Monday evening at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri.
Luzardo went a career-long six innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out 10 (matching his career high set with Stockton in April). The bullpen of Miguel Romero (hold), Nolan Blackwood (hold) and Kyle Finnegan (save) added five whiffs for a team season-high 15 strikeouts.
Luzardo has not allowed a run in his last four starts (21.0 innings) … has not allowed an earned run in his last five (26.0) … and has allowed a total of two runs (one earned) in his last half-dozen starts (31.0 innings) for a stunning 0.29 ERA.
J.P. Sportman drove in all three runs and Eli White (3-for-4, two runs, double, triple) continued his torrid pace at the plate to lead the offense.
White tripled to open the game and scored on J.P. Sportman's sacrifice fly … his double set the table for Sportman's RBI single in the third and his leadoff single again was a table-setter for Sportman, whose RBI double capped the scoring in the fifth.   J.P. finished the game 2-fo-3 with a double and three RBI.
Notables
Tuesday is a league-wide off day and the clubs had best "catch their collective breath."   Beginning Wednesday (July 11), the Texas League schedule calls for 26 games in 26 days (July 11-August 5).
The RockHounds won the first and last of their seven-game (six-day) road trip. Six of the seven games were either shutouts (1-2) or went to extra innings (0-3).
The shutout was the club's first since April 17 (1-0 over Tulsa).
On the way to matching his career high in strikeouts, Jesus Luzardo narrowly missed an "immaculate" inning in the first, striking out three batters on 10 pitches. SIX of his 10 whiffs came on three pitches each.
Eli White extended his remarkable streak to eight games. In the eight-gamer, he is 18-for-29 (.621) with two doubles, two triples, a home run and four RBI. Eli has also walked six times in the eight games (with one sac fly), reaching base in 24-of-36 plate appearances (.667 OBP).
Adding Injury to Insult
The 'Hounds have lost catcher Sean Murphy to a right hand injury. Baseball can be remarkably cruel. Sean sustained the injury on a line drive base hit Friday in Tulsa … a drive that snapped an 0-for-14 stretch. The injury also jeopardizes his appearance in next Sunday's All-Star Futures Game. Sean was examined by a doctor on Saturday and was scheduled to undergo another examination Monday to determine more specifics about the nature and severity of the injury.
I'm Not Tim Kurkjian Or Anything, Just Sayin' ...
The RockHounds are nine games behind the first-place Corpus Christi Hooks in the Texas League South Division. Beginning Wednesday (the start of the annual 26-games-in-26-days stretch) the 'Hounds face the division-leading Hooks eight times in 12 days (the clubs meet in a four-game series July 11-14 and again from July 19-22), all eight games at Security Bank Ballpark.
Next at Security Bank Ballpark                              
Four-game series versus Corpus Christi Hooks       
Wednesday        July 11 6:30 p.m.    "Wins-day Wednesday"
Thursday            July 12 7:00 p.m.    Thirsty Thursday
Friday     July 13 7:00 p.m.      Rocky RockHound Fatheads
Saturday            July 14 7:00 p.m.    Postgame Fireworks
Check our website for more information
www.midlandrockhounds.org