Max & The Deacon; 'Hounds Win, 3-1

RockHounds 3, Frisco RoughRiders 1

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Momentum Bank Ballpark

The RockHounds defeated division-leading Frisco Saturday night, 3-1, and there were two “co-stars” who shared top billing at Momentum Bank Ballpark.

Max Schuemann extended his remarkable on-base streak to 27 games (see “Kibbles & Bits,” below), fueling a three-run third inning that would provide all the RockHounds’ offense.

The “hat trick” would be enough for the win thanks largely to the outstanding Double-A debut of starting pitcher Colin Peluse.

Called up from (High-A) Lansing this week, the former Demon Deacon (he was selected by the A’s in the ninth round of the 2019 draft out of Wake Forest University) tossed five near-perfect innings for the win.

The right-hander shut out the RoughRiders on one hit, did not walk a batter, and struck out eight. Five of his K’s came in succession in the third and fourth innings (also see “Kibbles & Bits”).

Chase Calabuig opened the third inning with a walk and Schuemann followed with a single to center. Devin Foyle drew a walk to load the bases and the ‘Hounds scored on sacrifice flies from Jonah Bride and Logan Davidson and an RBI single from JJ Schwarz.

The RoughRiders, who had only one hit going into the top of the eighth, threatened in each of the last four innings but scored only one run. Montana DuRapau, backed by a pair of critical double plays, escaped a jam in the ninth to earn a two-inning save (his seventh).

Kibbles & Bits

Max Schuemann went 2-for-5 and has now reached base in 27 consecutive games. It’s redundant … and we hope it keeps right on being redundant (!) … but Max is hitting .420 in the 27-gamer with a .488 on-base percentage. He is hitting .341 overall in 45 games since being called up to the RockHounds (from Lansing) in mid-July.

Colin Peluse faced a total of 17 batters (16 officially with one batter in mid-count when a caught stealing ended the inning) and threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 17 hitters. He threw 79 pitches overall, 55 for strikes, in a tremendous debut at the Double-A level.

Next Game: Sunday, September 5

RockHounds vs. Frisco RoughRiders

Final of a six-game series and of a six-game homestand

First Pitch at 2:00

Sunday Family Day (five tickets for $25 with a coupon from the Sunday edition of the Midland Reporter-Telegram).

Sponsored by All-American Chevrolet of Midland

Probable Starters

FRI Zak Kent (RH, 0-2, 4.97)

RH Jared Koenig (LH, 5-4, 2.98)