Amarillo Walked Off In Midland
Midland, Texas – The Sod Poodles took an early lead, scoring runs in the first two innings of Saturday night's ballgame against the Midland RockHounds. Amarillo carried that lead into the ninth inning before eventually being walked off on a two-run homer to even the series at a game apiece.
Midland, Texas – The Sod Poodles took an early lead, scoring runs in the first two innings of Saturday night's ballgame against the Midland RockHounds. Amarillo carried that lead into the ninth inning before eventually being walked off on a two-run homer to even the series at a game apiece.
For the second straight night, the Sod Poodles put themselves ahead in the top of the first inning. Jorge Barrosa began the game just as he left off from the series opener a night ago. After going 5-for-5 on Friday, Barrosa doubled to lead off Saturday's game. He was brought home thanks to a Leandro Cedeno single for an early 1-0 lead.
Working from out in front, Blake Walston, the Arizona Diamondbacks No. 3 rated prospect fired a perfect opening frame, striking out all three RockHounds he faced.
Drew Stankiewicz provided a little more breathing room, belting his ninth homer of the year to make it a 2-0 lead after the top of the second inning. Walston worked around a one-out walk and wild pitch in the second, ending the frame with his fourth strikeout of the game. His fifth strikeout of the game closed the third inning as he had still allowed just the lone baserunner via a walk.
STANKED IT! @DrewStankie
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) July 24, 2022
M 2 | AMA - 2 | MID - 0 pic.twitter.com/OhgTU5gpbF
Amarillo was poised to add to the lead following a Ti'Quan Forbes single and Jose Curpa double in the top of the fourth with one out. The Sod Poodles left both stranded and maintained their two-run advantage. Walston surrendered his first hit of the night, a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth. The left-hander responded by striking out two of the next three batters he faced.
Midland finally broke through off Walston in the bottom of the fifth. A one-out double came around to score on a two-out RBI single to cut the Sod Poodles' lead in half.
Right-hander Josh Green was the first man out of the bullpen for either side, replacing Walston in the sixth inning. Walston's night ended after spinning five innings where he allowed just one run on three hits and struck out eight Midland hitters. Green worked a 1-2-3 first inning as the game headed to the top of the seventh and a pitching change for the RockHounds.
Charles Hall took over for David Leal and proceeded to toss three no-hit innings of relief and allowed just one baserunner after issuing a walk in the top of the seventh.
Mack Lemieux got two outs in the bottom of the eighth. After a one-out single loaded the bases, an inning-ending double play sent the game to the final inning. Amarillo was retired in order which sent the game to the bottom of the ninth and brought Justin Lewis into the game.
A leadoff single sent the potential winning run to the plate in Jeremy Eierman. The RockHounds starting second baseman ended the game, walking off the Sod Poodles with 14th home run of the season on a 1-1 pitch.
The brief weekend series concludes tomorrow afternoon in Midland with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM. RHP Brandon Pfaadt is scheduled to take the mound as the Sod Poodles look to clinch the first series from Momentum Bank Ballpark this year between the two teams.
* Notes:*
Wally's World: Left-hander and the highest ranked pitching prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Blake Walston, put together one of his best performances of the season on Saturday night. The No. 3 rated prospect started his night by striking out the side, three of his eight total strikeouts of the game. His eight punchies were tied for the second most in any of his 12 Double-A starts. His nine strikeout game against Corpus Christi on June 24 is still his Double-A high. His one run allowed was also tied for his second fewest allowed in a game for Amarillo. He has now held the RockHounds to one run twice, once tonight and back on June 1 at HODGETOWN. All of this comes after his last start where he allowed 10 runs on 12 hits to San Antonio prior to the All-Star break.
Blake 👏 Walston 👏 Appreciation 👏 Post 👏
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) July 24, 2022
5.0 IP
3 H
1 R
8 K pic.twitter.com/S4ZiPUv4jX
Stanked It: Drew Stankiewicz launched his ninth home run of the year tonight in the top of the second inning. He has now tied his career-high for most home runs hit in any single season over his eight-year minor league career. His nine homers now tie his output from the 2017 season split between Clearwater and Reading in the Phillies organization. The switch-hitter had never hit more than five for any single team in the minors.
Nightmare Fuel: After a leadoff double, Jorge Barrosa had failed to be retired in his first seven at-bats of the series. He went 5-for-5 on Friday with a walk and started Saturday's game reaching base for the seventh consecutive time over the first two games. Barrosa finished the game just 1-for-5 on Saturday, making him a respectable 6-for-10 in the two games with two runs scored, a double, walk, and a stolen base.
Mack Attack: After another scoreless appearance, albeit just two outs on Saturday, Sod Poodles' relief pitcher Mack Lemieux has lowered his ERA to 2.70 through his first nine appearances with Amarillo (10.0 IP). He has now five scoreless appearances in those nine and hasn't allowed more than two runs in any game since giving up three to Triple-A El Paso back on April 26.
*1 Through 9: *All nine Sod Poodles starters collected a hit, and all did so chipping in with one hit each for a total of nine hits. Midland finished with eight hits, dropping the Sod Poodles to 32-2 when out-hitting their opponent. Both losses have come in the last week.