Who You Gonna Call? Brett Vertigan ... Streak-Buster
Entering Saturday night's game, the RockHounds were looking to end to a seven-game losing streak. The club has also been searching for someone to effectively fill the leadoff spot at the top of the batting order. At least on this night, they found both. Brett Vertigan backed a quality start from Raul Alcantara, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, scoring one run and driving in another, as the RockHounds defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks, 3-1, at Security Bank Ballpark.
In snapping their seven-game "streak of sin" (the term for a losing streak coined by all-time great broadcaster Dan Lovett), the 'Hounds also ended the Hooks' (franchise record) 11-game win streak.
Alcantara was matched against David Paulino, the outstanding Astros' prospect, who entered the game (and departed it, despite a loss) with a sub-two earned run average. Each surrendered at least one run in the first inning, but each pitched shutout ball for the rest of their respective starts.
Alex Bregman singled with one out in the first and, with the defense in a shift for left-handed hitter Derek Fisher, hustled from first to third on a chopper to first base. Bregman then scored on a scary play when J.D. Davis' line drive back up the middle struck Alcantara in the left arm. The 'Hounds right-hander stayed down initially, but remained in the game.
Vertigan and Franklin Barreto led off the home half of the first with back-to-back singles and would score on a ground out and a strikeout (with strike three in the dirt and the throw going to first base). The 2-1 lead held up, with Vertigan's second double of the game driving in Andy Paz with an insurance run in the seventh. Ben Bracewell and Jake Sanchez preserved the win in Alcantara's fifth consecutive outstanding start.
The RockHounds
… are 21-20 (11-9 at Security Bank Ballpark and 10-11 on the road) … are 7-3 against the Hooks ... snapped a seven-game losing streak.
… remain seven games behind Frisco in the Texas League South Division (the RoughRiders edged San Antonio, 6-5, in Frisco) and are now four games behind second-place Corpus Christi (the Hooks dropped to three games behind of the first-place RoughRiders).
… host the Hooks on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. and on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. to close the homestand. The 'Hounds begin a six-game road trip to Springfield, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma, beginning Tuesday night (May 24), against the Cardinals at Hammons Field in Springfield.
Kibbles & Bits
STAT of the DAY The 3-1 win was the 14th consecutive RockHounds game decided by three runs or fewer.
Of those games, six have been one-run and six more have been two-run decisions. Of the pair of three-run games, one was a 15-inning contest with Frisco. The 'Hounds are 4-10 in the 14 games, with a total run differential of 24 (1.71 per game).
- In his last five starts, Raul Alcantara is 3-1, with a 1.19 earned run average (30.1 IP, 25 H, 8 R / 4 ER, 7 BB, 18 K ... a 1.05 WHIP).
ROSTER MOVES The Oakland A's have made several moves affecting the RockHounds. A quick review:
- (1B) Ryon Healy was promoted to the (Triple-A) Nashville after Monday's game (he made his debut with the Sounds on Tuesday)
- (OF) Tyler Marincov was promoted from the (Advanced-A) Stockton Ports to fill Healy's roster spot (Marincov has now played in four games)
- (P) Sam Bragg was activated from the disabled list (right hip) ... Bragg had last pitched April 25 (he returned to the mound on Thursday)
- (P) Ryan Gorton has been reassigned to Stockton (to make room for Bragg's activation)
- (OF) Jaycob Brugman has been promoted to the (Triple-A) Nashville Sounds (relative to Josh Reddick's injury with Oakland)
- (1B) John Nogowski has been promoted from the (Advanced-A) Stockton Ports to fill Brugman's roster spot (Nogowski joined the club on Saturday)