The (Key)vious to Success
Since mid-May, there hasn't been a better pitcher in the Texas League than San Antonio's Keyvius Sampson.
The 22-year-old right-hander from Ocala, Florida, took a page out of the book of Bull Durham's Nuke LaLoosh, "announcing his presence with authority" by striking out the first seven batters he faced and 10-of-the-first-13. A fifth-inning double by Jefry Marte was the only hit Sampson would allow in seven shutout innings, while walking one and matching a career high by striking out a dozen batters.
The RockHounds' Sean Murphy kept the 'Hounds in the game with a "quality start" of his own, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings, with just one walk against five strikeouts.
Cory Spangenberg's two-run single in the fifth broke a scoreless tie, but the Missions would need a pair of insurance runs in the eighth (on two walks and a two-run single by Jake Blackwood off RockHounds' reliever Brett Hunter) to seal the win.
The 'Hounds loaded the bases in the eighth, but came up empty, before scoring twice in the ninth off Matt Stites (one of the league's top relievers). Marte's second double of the game was followed by Dusty Coleman's RBI triple and a sacrifice fly from Vinnie Catricala. Beau Taylor singled to keep the inning alive, but Darwin Perez was called out on a tough third strike to end the game.
Kibbles & Bits
- Jefry Marte is having his finest overall series of the year. The RockHounds' third baseman, who missed virtually two full months due to a right calf injury, is 6-for-14 in the first three games of the series (against the Texas League's top pitching staff), with three doubles and three stolen bases. His defense has been equally good, making a game-saving (and game-ending) play in the series opener and another run-saving play Friday night, and his level of effort has been outstanding throughout.
- Dusty Coleman's triple was his eighth, tying teammate Chad Oberacker for the Texas League lead.
- Although he took a no-decision Friday night (and remains tied for second in franchise history with 30 career wins, one shy of the all-time mark), Carlos Hernandez pitched six scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.62, third-best in the Texas League. The "dark cloud behind the silver lining" (as comedian George Carlin put it) is that Carlos took a line drive off the right ankle in his last inning Friday. He stayed in the game (the inning would have been his last in any event, having thrown 102 pitches), the ankle is badly bruised and swollen. The left-hander's next scheduled start is Wednesday (at Frisco).
- The Oakland A's have released pitcher Jake Brown, and have promoted reliever Blake Hassebrock to the RockHounds from the (Advanced-A) Stockton Ports. Blake pitched the seventh inning Saturday night, allowing no runs, with a scratch single and a strikeout. The right-hander was Oakland's eighth round draft choice in 2011 out of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
- The San Antonio series concludes Sunday (6:05), followed by a three-game series at Frisco (Monday through Wednesday, 7:05 each night).
"Our Next Home Stand Follows This Road Trip" - - - Mike Shannon, St. Louis Cardinals Broadcaster
- The RockHounds return to Citibank Ballpark on "Thirsty" Thursday, July 25, hosting the Corpus Christi Hooks (July 25-28) and the Frisco RoughRiders (July 29-31).
- Friday, July 26, will now be a double-header (two, seven-inning games) between the RockHounds and Corpus Christi Hooks to make up for Wednesday's rainout. The first game will start at 5:00 p.m., with gates opening at 4:30. Friday is also Team Photo Night.
- The next fireworks show at Rocky Town is Saturday, July 27 (7:00 p.m. first pitch with fireworks following the game).
WP: Keyvius Sampson (7-4, 2.67)
LP: Sean Murphy (6-4, 4.13)
Next Game
vs. San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' AA Affiliate)
Sunday, July 20 6:05 p.m. Radio at 6:00 p.m.
Nelson Wolff Stadium San Antonio, TX
Probable Starters
RockHounds: (RH) Drew Granier (2-2, 2.73)
San Antonio: (RH) Matt Wisler (4-4, 3.46)