The Tonight Show ... Starring Johnny Carson Blair
In the first two games of the RockHounds' series with the Tulsa Drillers, the "star of the show" has been Carson Blair.
Tuesday, the RockHounds catcher had the game-winning hit, a bases-loaded, three-run double in the last of the eighth, turning a 6-5 deficit into an 8-6 lead. Wednesday night, in the designated hitter's role, Blair went 3-for-4 with a double, two triples, two runs and two RBI.
Carson finished the night with four runs batted in and is now 4-for-8 with two doubles, two triples and a half-dozen RBI in the last two nights.
As they did in the first game of the series, Tulsa took an early 3-0 lead, this time on a bases-empty, two-out rally in the second. Consecutive hits by Jarek Cunningham (triple), Daniel Mayora (triple), Adam Law (RBI single) and Ali Solis (RBI single) gave the Drillers the 3-0 advantage.
From there, RockHounds starter Chris Jensen was outstanding, tossing six innings of shutout ball on just three hits before departing after the eighth. The 2014 Texas League All-Star was coming off a tough start at Corpus Christi (10 runs in 3.0 innings) but returned to form Wednesday, allowing just two earned runs over the eight-inning performance. Jensen went six (or more) innings in 20 starts last season, and his eight innings Wednesday provided a huge break for the bullpen, as the game was the team's 34th in the last 35 days.
The win was the second straight in the three-game series (which concludes Thursday night) and boosts the RockHounds' home record to 15-8, the second-best home mark in the league. Only Northwest Arkansas (19-6) has a better track record on their home diamond in 2015.
The RockHounds
… are now 24-22 for the season … have won 3-of-their-last-4 … are 17-15 in South Division play and 7-7 versus the North Division …are 16-8 at Security Bank Ballpark … trail the division-leading Corpus Christi Hooks (31-14) by seven-and-a-half in the Texas League South.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT of the DAY # 1: RockHounds catcher Carson Blair is now the Texas League's co-leader in triples. Carson and RockHounds teammate Jaycob Brugman, along with Alex Liddi (NW Arkansas) and Charlie Tilson (Springfield), share the league lead, each with four three-baggers.
STAT of the DAY # 2: The RockHounds have been "deluxe counter-punchers" in the first two games of the series. Trailing Tulsa, 6-1, Tuesday, the 'Hounds scored the game's final seven runs and, on Wednesday, erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring eight times for the come-from-behind win.
CARSON BLAIR (3-for-4, double, two triples, two runs, two RBI)
... has hit in seven straight games, going 12-28 (.429), with three doubles, two triples and seven RBI
... has reached base in 17-of-18 games, hitting .393 (24-61) with a .486 on-base percentage
... has climbed to third in the Texas League in OBP (.433)
... is 4-for-8 in the Tulsa series, with two doubles, two triples and six runs batted in
- Colin Walsh went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI and has now reached base in 21-of-22 games (.277 with a .417 OBP)
- Bruce Maxwell (1-for-3, two runs, RBI, walk) has hit in five straight games (8-19, .421) and is hitting .368 (14-38) in his last 11 games.
- Chad Pinder (2-for-5) has hit in 9-of-10 games (19-45, .422) and is hitting .366 (26-71) in his last 18 games.
- Renato Nuñez (0-for-3, walk, sac fly) extended his on-base streak to 12 games (10-45, .222) and played first base for the first time in his professional career. While he committed on error on a mishandled throw, he also saved a run with a nice pick on a wide throw in the fifth.
- Ryon Healy (1-for-4, run, walk) continued a long stretch of consistent hitting, reaching base for the 28th time in his last 31 games (.310).
- Bobby Wahl pitched a scoreless ninth inning and has now allowed just two runs over his last 13-and-a-third innings (a 1.35 ERA).