A Rembrandt On The Hill? Ex-ZACH-tly !

Neal Fires Complete Game

By Bob Hards

July 24, 2013

The RockHounds have been a part of the two best (bar far) pitching performances of the 2013 Texas League season. On June 27, the 'Hounds were the victims of an 11-0 no-hitter crafted by Northwest Arkansas' Brooks Pounders at Springdale, Arkansas.

Tuesday, Zach Neal threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout against the RoughRiders at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco. Neal faced just 28 batters (one over the minimum), allowing two singles and no walks with three strikeouts.

Neal gave up a long single to Brett Nicholas in the last of the first, but Conner Crumbliss played the ball perfectly at the base of the wall in left, and threw Nicholas out when he tried to stretch the single into a double. After the Nicholas hit, Neal was perfect over the next five innings, retiring 15 consecutive batters from the second through the sixth.

Teodoro Martinez, who homered for Frisco's only run Monday night, singled leading off the seventh. After a sacrifice bunt pushed Martinez into scoring position, Neal again faced Nicholas, who entered the game ranked fourth in the league in hitting (.307), fifth in home runs (18) and third in RBI (67). The 'Hounds' right-hander struck Nicholas out in a nine-pitch at bat, then got Tomas Telis to ground out, ending the inning. Neal retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth, with the final out coming on a solid play by Tyler Ladendorf on a chopper to third base.

Neal pitched to contact (101 pitches, 67 for strikes), striking out just three batters, but giving up very few hard-hit balls. The complete game two-hitter is second only to Pounders' no-hitter. The only other "low-hit" complete game in the Texas League in 2013 was a three-hitter by Frisco's Kevin Pucetas, which came in a seven-inning game.

A Game Of Inches … & Decisions

The RockHounds were also limited by outstanding pitching, with four Frisco pitchers allowing just five hits. In the fourth, Conner Crumbliss (see below) was brushed by a Tyler Tufts delivery, reaching base on the hit by pitch. With one out and Dusty Coleman at the plate, RockHounds manager Aaron Nieckula sent Crumbliss on a 3-1 count. Coleman ripped the pitch into the left field corner with Crumbliss scoring all the way from first. Had "Nuke" not sent the runner, the game would have remained scoreless with two on and one out.

Kibbles & Bits

- In his first seven starts of the season, Zach Neal was 3-0, with a 2.14 ERA. He struggled in much of May (5.26 ERA), June (5.53) and his first two starts in July (10.61), but has allowed one or fewer earned runs in his last three starts. In those games, Zach is 2-0, with a 0.84 ERA.

- Conner Crumbliss, hitting in the # 3 spot for just the second time, went 0-for-3, but reached base on the fourth-inning hit by pitch. The play not only turned into the game's only run, it also extended Conner's on-base streak to 18 games.

- The RockHounds are now 4-2 on their road trip with one game remaining on the weeklong road swing. The 'Hounds split the four-game set at San Antonio against the division-leading Missions and have captured the first two games of the three-game set at Frisco. The 'Hounds and RoughRiders conclude their series Wednesday night at 7:05 at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

"Our Next Home Stand Follows This Road Trip" - - - Mike Shannon, St. Louis Cardinals Broadcaster

- The RockHounds return to Citibank Ballpark for a "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: Zach Neal (7-8, 4.28)

LP: Tyler Tufts (3-3, 3.32)

Next Game

vs. Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers' AA Affiliate)

Wednesday, July 24 7:05 p.m. Radio at 7:00 p.m.

Dr Pepper Ballpark Frisco, TX

Probable Starters

RockHounds: (LH) Carlos Hernandez (5-7, 2.62)

Frisco: (RH) Carlos Pimentel (8-6, 3.95)