Right Back At Ya ... 'Hounds Win Series

RockHounds 5, Frisco RoughRiders 3

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Momentum Bank Ballpark

When the RockHounds and Frisco opened the 2021 season in the Metroplex, the RoughRiders won four of the six games. With a 5-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Momentum Bank Ballpark, the ‘Hounds returned the favor. With the win, their third in-a-row, the RockHounds captured the series, 4-2, and moved to within a game-and-a-half of the division-leading RoughRiders.

Frisco grabbed a 1-0 lead behind four shutout innings from starter A.J. Alexy and a solo home run from Josh Stowers (see “Kibbles & Bits,” below). Alexy allowed just two hits, with no walks and six strikeouts.

RockHounds starter Jared Koenig (also see “Kibbles & Bits”) allowed just one run (Stowers’ homer) in a quality start. The left-hander gave up one run on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts over six innings to earn the win.

Jeremy Eierman’s solo home run over the high wall in left-center tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth and the RockHounds took the lead for good on Jonah Bride’s sacrifice fly (scoring Jhonny Santos) in the sixth.

The ‘Hounds batted around in the seventh, scoring three runs via a combination of four singles, three walks and aggressive baserunning (including two of their three stolen bases in the game).

The win came on contributions from up and down the lineup. Bride had two RBI … Eierman walked and scored a run to go with his solo blast … Marty Bechina came up big for the second straight game with an RBI and a run … and Mickey McDonald drove in a run, stole a base, and scored a run (all in one pinch-hit at bat).

Kibbles & Bits

The RockHounds, who have won 7-of-10, are now 8-4 at Momentum Bank Ballpark with (4-2) series wins over San Antonio and Frisco.

Jared Koenig has more than “paid his dues” to earn his first chance to pitch in the affiliated minors. The left-hander pitched in five independent leagues … as well as Australia … before signing with Oakland. He’s making the most of the opportunity - - with Sunday’s quality start, Jared is 2-0, with a 1.25 ERA.

Marty Bechina went 3-for-6 (with a triple) in the two weekend games scoring two runs and driving in two more. He scored from second base on an infield single Sunday afternoon, part of a game in which the RockHounds’ “ground game” had a major impact.

Josh Stowers had been on Frisco’s Injured List and had not played since May 18 when he stepped to the plate in the second inning. Stowers, who entered the game 1-for-26, homered on the first pitch of his first AB in 12 days.

Next Game: Tuesday, June 1

RockHounds vs. Corpus Christi Hooks

Opener of a six-game series … First Pitch at 6:30

The Corpus Christi Hooks come to Momentum Bank Ballpark for a six-game series (Tuesday through Sunday), including:

Thirsty Thursday (June 3), Kids Jersey Night (Friday, June 4) and Saturday night fireworks (Saturday, June 5).