RockHounds Fall to Sod Poodles

Amarillo Sod Poodles 9, RockHounds 4
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
HODGETOWN           Amarillo, TX
After seeing a lead vanish late in Monday night's series opener, the Sod Poodles busted out again, this time to a 9-1 advantage, and went on to defeat the RockHounds, 9-4, Tuesday night at HODGETOWN in Amarillo, Texas.
Edward Oliveras drove in two runs in the early going (he is now second in the Texas League with 28 RBI) and Brad Zunica added a solo home run as Amarillo took a 3-0 lead after three innings. The Sod Poodles then scored a hat trick in both the fourth and fifth innings, building the lead to 9-1. Rodrigo Orozco had the biggest single swing of those two innings, a two-run single in the fourth.
Kyle Lloyd, who threw a 9-inning no-hitter against Frisco as a member of the San Antonio Missions in 2017, went five strong innings for the win. The right-hander allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six.
The clubs have split the first two games of the three-game series (the 'Hounds lead the season series, 6-2) with the finale Wednesday evening (7:05).
Notable
Frisco defeated Corpus Christi, 5-4 (in 10 innings at "the beach"), so the RoughRiders (22-16) now lead the RockHounds (19-18) by two-and-a-half games and the Hooks (18-19) by three-and-a-half (Amarillo stays six back).
HODGETOWN (that's how it's spelled) has not been kind to RockHounds starter James Naile. In his first start (April 8) at the new ballpark in Amarillo, he allowed eight runs (on eight hits) in three innings and the Sod Poodles scored nine runs (six earned) on 10 hits in 4⅓ Tuesday night (a 17.18 ERA).
Brad Zunica's home run was his seventh of the season, five of them in the first six games of the season (April 4-9). After going almost exactly one month without a dinger, he homered on May 10 and again Tuesday night.
"This Game Will Keep You Humble Dept."   In the series opener, Owen Miller (4-4, double, walk) and Buddy Reed (4-for-4, double, HR, two RBI, stolen base) went a combined 8-for-8 and reached base in all nine plate appearances. Tuesday night, Reed singled and scored (and stole a base in four trips Tuesday while Miller, who was on deck when the Amarillo eighth inning ended, lost a seven-game hit streak, going 0-for-4,
The good news wasn't plentiful Tuesday, but there were a few bright spots:
Jonah Heim led the offense with a three-hit night (3-for-5) and has been perhaps the club's most consistent hitter. Jonah has reached base in 22-of-his-last-25 games (.312).
Mikey White singled in his last at-bat to extend his hit streak to five (9-22, .409) and his on-base streak to 13 games (.286).
Luis Barrera went 2-for-5 with a double and his league-leading fourth triple, each hit driving in a run. In his last six at-bats, Luis is 3-for-6 with a double, triple, and home run.
Anthony Miller beat out an infield single (and drew a walk) and has hit in four straight games (5-15, .333).
After two rough outings (since coming to the RockHounds from Las Vegas), Cody Stull returned to form. The lefty went 2⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just two hits (one on a swinging bunt) with no walks and two K's.
Next Game
Wednesday, May 15   vs. Amarillo Sod Poodles
HODGETOWN           Amarillo, Texas
First pitch 7:05 p.m.   
- Final of a three-game series and road trip
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 7:00 p.m.
Probable Starters              
AMA:                 T.J. Weir        (RH,    2-2, 7.43)
RH:  Brian Howard   (RH,       3-1, 2.37)
The RockHounds host Corpus Christi in a "four-day weekend" at Rocky Town, May 16-19:
- Thirsty Thursday (May 16)
- Copa Celebration (Matamoscas) & RockHounds Caps (Friday, May 17
- Fireworks (Saturday, May 18)
- Family Day (Sunday, May 19 at 2:00 p.m.)