Matamoscas Shutout in Pitchers' Duel

Corpus Christi Raspas (Hooks) 1, Matamoscas de Midessa (RockHounds) 0
Friday, May 17, 2019
Security Bank Ballpark
Friday was the second Copa de la Diversión night of the season at Security Bank Ballpark, so the Corpus Christi Hooks became the "Raspas" and the RockHounds transformed into the "Matamoscas de Midessa."
That's four names for two baseball teams, but the only name that really mattered when all was said and done was Ronnie Dawson .  
With absolutely ZERO "hometown-ing" involved, the home team would have claimed a 4-1 victory had it not been for two brilliant catches fby the Corpus Christi centerfielder. Instead, the Hooks / Raspas earned a 1-0 shutout, evening the four game series at a game apiece and climbing back into a second place tie with the RockHounds in the Texas League South (see below).
Corpus Christi scored the game's only run in the second. Abraham Toro lined a single through the vacant shortstop spot against the shift to lead off the inning and Daulton Jefferies hit Seth Beer with an 0-2 pitch to put two men on with no outs. A Jonah Heim passed ball moved the runners into scoring position and Granden Goetzman's sacrifice fly to right brought Toro home.
The first of Dawson's thieveries (each of them clearly saved two runs from scoring) came in the fifth. After left fielder Carmen Benedetti made a nice catch (with a strong wind blowing for the second straight night) on a deep drive to left by Edwin Diaz, Luis Barrera singled up the middle and Greg Deichmann reached on a two-out error to put runners at the corners. Deichmann was running on an 0-2 pitch to Heim and the RockHounds catcher sent a drive into right-center. Dawson made the catch at full speed before somersaulting to the turf while hanging on for the out.
In the seventh, Dawson was even better. After a one-out Diaz double and a two-out walk to Mikey White, Deichmann drilled a line drive to right-center. Dawson tracked the ball down, again at full speed, this time going airborne to make the diving, inning-ending catch to save two more runs and the lead.
Reliever Carlos Sanabria then pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to seal the 1-0 Hooks / Raspas win.
Notable
South Division leader Frisco rallied but fell short, 7-5, at home against Amarillo, tightening the division race. The RoughRiders (23-18) hold a two-and-a-half game lead over the RockHounds and Hooks (both 20-20) with the Sod Poodles (17-22) back to within five of the top spot.
Trey McNutt pitched three scoreless innings with eight of his nine outs coming on strikeouts. The RockHounds struck out 15 Corpus Christi batters for the game, with (starter) Daulton Jefferies getting five K's in his allotted three innings and Joel Seddon striking out two.
Mikey White went hitless (0-for-3) but drew a walk in the seventh to extend his on-base streak to 15 games (.267). Despite the "oh-fer," Mikey is 9-for-21 (.429) in his last five home games (with three doubles, one HR, six RBI).
Luis Barrera (1-for-4) has hit in six straight games (8-28, .286) with a double, two triples, a home run, and three RBI.
Edwin Diaz (1-for-4, double) has reached base in nine straight games (.267) and is tied for third in the Texas League with 17 extra-base hits.
Jonah Heim (1-for-4) has reached base in 11-of-12 games (.295) and in 25-of-his-last-28 games (.301).
Corpus Christi starter Tyler Ivey did not qualify for the win, but pitched four scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 0.72 in six games.
The 'Hounds / Matamoscas missed an opportunity against the right-hander in the second, loading the bases on a hit and two walks. Ivey uncharacteristically went 3-1 to three batters in the inning but escaped. He walked three batters his four innings after offering up just six bases on balls in his first five outing (21 innings).
Next Game
Saturday, May 18 vs. Corpus Christi Hooks
Security Bank Ballpark           7:00 p.m. (Gates open 6:00)
Postgame Fireworks
- Third of a four-game series and homestand
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:47 p.m.
Probable Starters              
CC: Carson LaRue     (RH,      0-1, 5.88)
RH: Matt Milburn (RH,            1-2, 4.31)