Russell & Burns Carry RockHounds To Win
Burns & Russell Declare The Third of July "Independence Day"
Billy Burns and Addison Russell accounted for all three runs … and combined to make five defensive plays worthy of ESPN consideration Thursday night … leading the RockHounds to a 3-1 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. In doing so, the duo helped the 'Hounds proclaim their "independence" from the "tyranny" of a six-game losing streak.
Burns led the way, going 3-for-5 … two of them infield singles … and scoring each time he reached base. The 'Hounds centerfielder also stole two bases (his league-leading 41st and 42nd of the season) and made a pair of electrifying, diving catches. Russell reached base in 4-of-5 plate appearances … including an RBI double that extended his hit streak to eight games … and made three sensational defensive plays.
Burns led off the game, breaking a 2-for-18 slump, with an infield single. Russell drew the first of his three walks and Max Muncy ripped a single to center to load the bases. The 'Hounds, however, scored just one run, with Burns coming home on a double play. In the third, Burns reached again, this time on a single to center, and moved to second on a balk. Russell followed with a line drive double down the left field line (the team's only RBI of the game) to give the 'Hounds a 2-0 lead.
In the seventh, Billy's "wheels," almost single-handedly, produced the third run of the game. With the bases empty and two out, he beat out a chopper to shortstop (a play on which very few players, no matter the level, could have reached). Burns then swiped second … and third … before Russell extended the inning with this third base on balls of the night. When first baseman Cheslor Cuthbert couldn't handle Angel Franco's throw from second on Muncy's grounder, Burns scored to make the score 3-0.
Early in the game … with one on and two out in the third … Cuthbert sent a high drive to deep center. Burns made a full-out, horizontal diving catch so good that (despite taking a run away from the home team) the Naturals crowd gave him a round of applause. Burns made another diving catch, this time with two runners on in the eighth, on a sinking line drive off Franco's bat.
Russell "slapped leather" three times, robbing Franco on a grounder up the middle in the fourth and Justin Trapp on a ball hit in the hole in the fifth. Franco and Trapp, it should be noted, are two of the Naturals' three fastest players. "Addy" made it defensive hat trick with a spectacular diving, over-the-shoulder catch in shallow center in the ninth, again denying Trapp.
Muncy, it should be noted, also contributed greatly to the "D," making multiple "picks" at first base.
WP: Chris Jensen (5-7, 3.80)
LP: J.C. Sulbaran (5-6, 3.00)
SV: Ryan Dull (1, 3.69)
Kibbles & Bits
- The Texas League South tightened up, as division-leading San Antonio fell at home to the Tulsa Drillers, 6-4, in 10 innings. Frisco (7-6) moved to within a game-and-a-half of the Missions (9-5), with the RockHounds (6-7) two-and-a-half back and Corpus Christi (6-8) three games out.
- NW Arkansas' Angel Franco has been amazing against the RockHounds. On Thursday, he went 2-for-4 and was flat out r-o-b-b-e-d in his other two at bats (see above). Overall against the 'Hounds, Franco is hitting .463 (19-41) … and in the recent five games (June 25-27 at Security Bank Ballpark and the first two at Springdale in this series) he is 14-21 … a .667 average (even with the two thieveries).
- Chris Jensen went 6.0 shutout innings for his fifth win of the season … Ryan Dull went an inning-and-a-third for his first save of the year (and second at the Double-A level). In his three-year career, Ryan has 25 saves in 29 opportunities.
- Addison Russell (1-2, RBI double, three walks) extended his hit streak to eight games (10-28, .357 with a .514 OBP) … Jefry Marte (1-4, walk) has reached base in 13-of-14 games (13-46, .283 with a .411 OBP) … Conner Crumbliss (1-4, stolen base) is 6-for-15 (.400) in his last four games … D'Arby Myers (1-4) has hit in five straight (6-for-18, .333) … Blake Forsythe (1-4) has hit in 9-of-10 games (12-38, .316).
Next Game
vs. NW Arkansas Naturals (Los Angeles Angels' AA Affiliate)
Friday, the Fourth of July 7:05 p.m. Radio at 7:00 p.m.
Arvest Ballpark - Springdale, Arkansas
Probable Starters
RockHounds: Sean Murphy (RH, 2-0, 3.06)
NW Arkansas: Sam Selman (LH, 3-5, 4.00)