RockHounds turn another triple play

For the second time in less than a month, the Midland RockHounds' defense helped get their pitcher out of a bases-loaded jam with a triple play. Just like last time, though, it wasn't enough.

Second baseman Adam Heether started the team's second triple play in the last 27 days in the sixth inning of the A's Double-A affiliate's 10-5 loss to the Frisco RoughRiders on Monday.

Davis Stoneburner led off the frame with a single to left field off southpaw Trey Barham. Renny Osuna walked and Tommy Mendonca followed with a single to right to fill the bases.

Michael Bianucci lined the first pitch he saw right to Heether, who flipped the ball to first baseman Michael Spina to double off Mendonca. Spina then threw back to Heether, who caught Osuna coming back to second base to end the threat.

On May 25, Heether was in the middle of another big play. With two on and no outs in the sixth inning of the Tulsa Drillers' 14-13 victory, Wilin Rosario hit into an around-the-horn triple play. Stephen Parker fielded Rosario's one-hopper near the bag and stepped on the base for the first out. He then threw to Heether for the force at second and Heether relayed it to Spina.

On Monday, center fielder Tyler Ladendorf was 3-for-4 with a homer, a pair of doubles and two RBIs for Midland. Shawn Haviland (2-7) took the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and two walks while fanning five over four innings.

Davis Stoneburner went 4-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored and an RBI, and Mendonca and Engel Beltre each had two hits and three RBIs in the win.

Robbie Erlin (4-0) earned the victory for the RoughRiders. He scattered eight hits and yielded four runs over 4 2/3 innings of relief.