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White Walks it Off For Fourth Straight Win

June 7, 2019

RockHounds 3, Frisco RoughRiders 2Friday, June 7, 2019   Security Bank BallparkLuis Barrera was electrifying ... Mike White was clutch ... Cody Stull was lights out ... and the RockHounds put themselves back into the discussion in the South Division pennant race ... all to the delight of five-thousand plus Friday

RockHounds 3, Frisco RoughRiders 2
Friday, June 7, 2019  
Security Bank Ballpark
Luis Barrera was electrifying ... Mike White was clutch ... Cody Stull was lights out ... and the RockHounds put themselves back into the discussion in the South Division pennant race ... all to the delight of five-thousand plus Friday night at Security Bank Ballpark.
Barrera's triple with two out in the last of the ninth (his second of the game) set the stage for White's walk-off single, a sharp grounder that eluded third baseman Andretty Cordero, bringing Barrera home with RockHounds' fourth consecutive victory.
Luis set the tone right off the bat (figuratively and literally). He singled on the first pitch of the first inning ... stole second on the second pitch ... and (after productive out from White pushed him to third) scored the game's first run on a sac fly from Tyler Ramirez.   With two out in the third, Barrera ripped his first triple of the night, a line drive to left-center. White fell behind in the count, 0-2, against Frisco starter Ronald Herrera, then sent the 0-2 pitch into right field for an RBI single and a 2-0 lead.
RockHounds starter Daulton Jefferies, who pitched into the fourth inning for the first time this season, went 3⅔ scoreless innings (one hit, no walks, six strikeouts) before giving up a solo home run to Cordero (the last batter he faced). Frisco tied the game in the seventh when Josh Altmann doubled to left, went to third on a Grant Holmes wild pitch, and scored on Chuck Moorman's sac fly.
The 'Hounds had a golden opportunity to break the tie in the eighth when reliever CD Pelham walked the bases loaded with no outs. Yoel Espinal then came in from the Frisco bullpen and pulled the "great escape," getting three consecutive outs.
Cody Stull (see below) retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth, but the game was still tied with the bases empty and two out in the last of the ninth. Enter Barrera, who sent Espinal's first pitch into the right field corner and (perhaps ignoring a stop sign) flew all the way around to third base, finishing with a head-first dive. White worked a 3-1 count and sent a sharp one-hopper to third. Cordero got a piece of it but had virtually no chance to make the play. Barrera charged home, scoring his third run, this one the game-winner.
The Pennant Race
While the 'Hounds were making it two-in-a-row over the division-leading RoughRiders, Amarillo evened its series at Corpus Christi, blasting the Hooks, 12-3, at Whataburger Field. The four clubs in the Texas League South Division are now separated by just two-and-a-half games with nine (9) to play. Saturday and Sunday will be the last games played within the division in the first half. The final seven games will be North-versus-South.
Frisco (32-29) continues to lead Corpus Christi (30-30) by a game-and-a-half, with Amarillo (29-30) just two back and the RockHounds (29-31) closing to within two-and-a-half games of the RoughRiders.
Notables
After his first at-bat one week ago (Friday, May 31), Luis Barrera was mired in a 2-for-23 slump.  He "seems" to have broken out of it. Including that game, Luis is 16-for-34 (.471) in his last eight with 12 runs, three doubles, two triples and four RBI.
Mikey White has reached base in 12 straight games (.261 with 12 RBI) ... is hitting .290 with 20 RBI in his last 25 games ... and is hitting .341 with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI in his last 12 games at Security Bank Ballpark.
Cody Stull has allowed one earned run in his last nine outings, covering 14⅓ innings (a 0.63 ERA).
Thanks to our friends at Chevron for our annual Kids Jersey Night ... always one of the season's highlight nights (5,252 Friday night including a whole bunch of happy kiddos!).
Next Game
Saturday, June 7 vs. Frisco RoughRiders
Security Bank Ballpark           7:00 p.m. (Gates open 6:00)
Postgame Fireworks
- Third of a four-game series and homestand
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:47 p.m.
Probable Starters                   
FRI: Tyler Phillips (RH,         0-3, 9.19)
RH: Matt Milburn (RH,         2-4, 5.40)