Merrell, Blanco Lead Matamoscas to Win Over Naturals

Matamoscas De Midessa (RockHounds) 7, NW Arkansas Naturals 5
Friday, April 26, 2019
Security Bank Ballpark
       
The Matamoscas de Midessa are undefeated! Okay, so it's one game ... but undefeated!
The franchise's debut as part of Minor League Baseball's Copa de la Diversión saw the Matamoscas (RockHounds) defeat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, 7-5, in front of more than 5,200 fans Friday night at Security Bank Ballpark.
The contest was a battle of big innings with the Matamoscas building a 7-0 lead, scoring four runs in the second inning and three more in the fourth. The lead stayed at 7-0 until Northwest Arkansas rallied back with a five-run seventh.
James Naile opened the game with six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one hit batsman, before the Naturals rallied back in the seventh. Norge Ruiz relieved Naile and, while his two inherited runners scored, the right-hander went the rest of the way to record an "old school" save of two-and-two innings. The Naturals put two men on in the ninth, but Ruiz also struck out the side in the inning, getting Emmanuel Ramirez looking to seal the win.
Kevin Merrell's two-run line drive home run into the right field bullpen capped the four-run second inning and Chase Calabuig's two-run double, which drove in the club's last two runs, would provide the winning edge.
The RockHounds are now 3-1 in their current (weather-shortened) homestand, having previously taken 2-of-3 from the Tulsa Drillers.
The 'Hounds and Northwest Arkansas continue their four-gamer with games Saturday night (7:00), Sunday afternoon (2:00) and Monday morning (11:00) at Security Bank Ballpark.
Phrase We Never Thought We Say or Hear
The only South Division clubs to win Friday night were the Matamoscas and the Sod Poodles!
Springfield rallied to defeat first-place Frisco, 3-2, and Tulsa posted a 6-3 win at Corpus Christi (Amarillo beat North Division leader Arkansas, 6-2). Thanks to the Matamoscas (!), the RockHounds (12-9) are just a half-game behind the RoughRiders (13-9) in the South with Corpus Christi (11-11) and Amarillo (10-12) two and three back, respectively.
Notables
Dairon Blanco, who celebrated his 26^th birthday Friday, returned to the lineup Thursday for the first time since April 16 when he led off game one of the double-header versus Tulsa. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI in that game and was 3-for-5 with a run, an RBI and two stolen bases (his eighth and ninth) on Friday. Many happy returns, Dairon!
Jonah Heim (1-for-4, run, RBI) has hit in eight straight games (11-29, .379) and has reached base in 11 games in-a-row (15-41, .366).
In his last four games, Kevin Merrell (2-for-4, double, HR, two RBI) is 6-for-14 (.429).   The 'Hounds shortstop also has hits in 6-of-his-last-7 games (9-24, .375, with two doubles, a HR, seven runs and seven RBI).
Chase Calabuig's two-run double provided the winning margin. Since being assigned to the RockHounds (from Single-A Beloit) to fill the roster spot vacated when Luis Barrera went on the Injured List, Chase is hitting .316 (6-for-19) with a double, two triples and six RBI. He has also drawn nine walks (against five strikeouts) for a .536 on-base percentage.
Next Game
Saturday, April 27       vs. NW Arkansas Naturals
Postgame Fireworks
Security Bank Ballpark           7:00 p.m.
- Second of a four-game-game series and fifth of a (rain-shortened) seven-game homestand
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:47 p.m.
Probable Starters
NWA:                     Gerson Garabito            (RH,    1-1, 5.00)
RH: Brian Howard    (RH,   2-0, 1.71)