John Donne & The 500-Pound Gorilla
Somewhere around 1600, English poet John Donne penned the beautiful line, "Therefore, send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee." Hey, John, you left out one word - - - Chad. As in Chad Bell.
The Frisco left-hander went seven shutout innings as the RoughRiders won the opener of a four-game series, 4-0, Saturday at Security Bank Ballpark. Nomar Mazara backed the performance with a solo home run and two RBI, as Bell combined with two relievers on a two-hitter.
It may not be proper journalism to put an English cleric, such as Mr. Donne, in the same headline with a half-ton primate, but that 500-pound gorilla in the RockHounds' dugout comes in the form of an eight-game losing streak. Since sweeping the Tulsa Drillers in the first three games of the last road trip (June 2-4), the 'Hounds had been swept (3-0) at Springfield and at home (4-0) by the first half champion Corpus Christi Hooks before dropping the opener of the set with Frisco.
Bell entered the game with a 1-7 record and a 5.01 ERA, but his peripheral numbers were very good (about one hit per inning and a nearly four-to-one strikeouts-to-walks ratio). The lefty had two men on with one out in the second, but a 4-6-3 ended the threat and Bell largely cruised through the next five innings.
Mazara has been as hot ... and as productive ... as any hitter in the league over the last six games. The 20-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has hit in six straight games, belting three home runs and driving in a dozen runs in that stretch. Nomar entered the season rated the Texas Rangers' #5 prospect by Baseball America and #3 by MLB.com.
While the RockHounds (29-32) are now entertaining the aforementioned gorilla, the RoughRiders (27-34) won their fourth straight game.
The RockHounds
… are now 29-32 for the season (after reaching a season-best five games over .500 at 29-24) … have dropped a season-high eight straight ... were shut out for the sixth time (the club is 5-6 in shutout games) ... are 6-3 versus the Frisco RoughRiders (4-1 at Security Bank Ballpark and 2-2 at Dr Pepper Ballpark) … are 18-15 at Security Bank Ballpark and have dropped six straight at home ... are 11-17 on the road … are 17-20 in South Division play and finished first half cross-division play 12-12 versus the North.
Kibbles & Bits
GOOD NEWS & BAD NEWS: Being shut out, 4-0, on two hits and dropping eight straight should pretty well handle the bulk of the "bad news." The good news came from the RockHounds' first and last pitchers of the night - - - Jonathan Joseph and Chris Lamb. The two exchanged roles entering this game, with Joseph getting the start and Lamb moving to the bullpen.
Jonathan, how went five innings, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out six and walking no one, continues to be a great story. The Dominican Republic native, who lowered his ERA to 2.35, did not receive his first promotion to the Double-A level until his tenth pro season and shortly before his 27th birthday (he was called up April 15 from Stockton).
Chris has struggled in two stints with the RockHounds (separated by a reassignment to extended spring training), posting a 14.63 ERA in seven starts. The left-hander pitched a scoreless ninth inning, hitting Drew Robinson with an 0-2 pitch, but getting a terrific play at short from Wade Kirkland to end the inning moments later.
- Colin Walsh went 0-for-2, but drew a pair of walks, reaching base for the 34th time in his last 37 games, and is hitting .340 (18-53) in his last dozen contests. Colin lead the Texas League in doubles (19) and extra-base hits (27) and ranks among the top five in multiple categories.