Sod Poodles Complete Sweep of RockHounds

Midland, Texas (June 11, 2023) – The Amarillo Sod Poodles completed the six-game series sweep of their Oil Pan Cup rivals, taking Sunday's game at Momentum Bank Ballpark 4-1.

For the second straight day, Amarillo led off the ballgame with a run. Camden Duzenack swatted his first home run of the year for Amarillo to put the Sod Poodles up by an early run. Midland matched the Sod Poodles' run, putting the tying run across with a RBI groundout.

Amarillo quickly regained their advantage, making the most of a two-out error that kept the inning alive. Neyfy Castillo doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the second inning. Right-hander Luke Albright and the defense worked around a leadoff triple, cutting down the potential tying run at the plate after wild pitch sent the runner home. Albright struck out a batter, and then Amarillo left another runner in scoring position following a two-out walk and stolen base.

The game's next run didn't come until the sixth inning. After Jordan Lawlar doubled to start the frame, he would come around to score just before a ground ball resulted in a pair of outs in the top of the sixth. Albright's day came to an end after another strong 6.0 IP where he allowed just three hits and struck out a season-high eight Midland hitters. It was his third quality start in his last four appearances.

Christian Montes De Oca was the first man used out of the Amarillo bullpen, coming in to replace Albright for the bottom of the seventh. He walked one and picked up a strikeout in his first inning of work.

Nick Dalesandro greeted the third Midland pitcher of the game with a leadoff single back up the middle of the field. Dalesandro was waved home as A.J. Vukovich singled and then advanced to second on the throw home that was not in time to get the speedy Dalesandro as Amarillo pushed their advantage to 4-1 in the eighth.

Conor Grammes struck out two to help escape the eighth without a run allowed after issuing a two-out free pass.

Kyle Backhus made his third appearance of the series, closing out the ninth inning as he also collected his sixth save of the campaign.

Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, Amarillo will now make the short trip back to Amarillo ahead of a pivotal six-game series against the San Antonio Missions. The Missions (Double-A, San Diego) currently sit atop the Texas League South Division with 12-games remaining in the first half. The series in HODGETOWN begins Tuesday, June 13 with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

NOTES:

BUST OUT THE BROOMS: For the first time since the Double-A schedule changed to six-game series ahead of the 2021 season, Amarillo earned a six-game sweep. The six-game winning streak also ties the franchise-high, a feat that Amarillo last accomplished back in September of last year. With the sweep, the Sod Poodles have taken an 8-4 lead in the 2023 Oil Pan Cup race.

ALBRIGHT, ALBRIGHT, ALBRIGHT: Making his second start of the series, RHP Luke Albright turned in another quality start on the bump for Amarillo. He ended the series with 12.0 IP, allowing just eight hits and three earned runs. He struck out 14 between the two starts in Midland. With the win, Albright moves to 5-2 on the year, and 4-1 in eight road starts. In 39.0 IP away from HODGETOWN in 2023, Albright has racked up 50 strikeouts and has allowed just 31 hits and 14 earned runs, good for a 3.23 ERA in his road starts.

LOUD STARTS: Camden Duzenack collected a leadoff home run to start Sunday's ballgame. It was Duzenack's first homer of the season for Amarillo and his first since Sept. 9, 2022 when he was with Triple-A Reno. It was the first leadoff home run of Duzenack's professional career. It marked the sixth leadoff homer of the season by an Amarillo player. Ryan Bliss has four on the season and Tim Tawa had the only other before Duzenack's on Sunday.

PROSPECTING IN MIDLAND: Jordan Lawlar and A.J. Vukovich had an impressive series in Midland. Lawlar, the D-backs' top-rated prospect went 11-for-27, with a home run, three doubles, a triple, two RBI, and 11 runs scored this week. Vukovich, the D-backs' no. 11-rated prospect hit .400 (10-for-25) with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, and nine runs scored in Momentum Bank Ballpark.

SAVE IT: Lefty Kyle Backhus earned his sixth save of the year, pitching a scoreless ninth inning for Amarillo on Sunday afternoon. His six saves is currently tops in the Texas League along with San Antonio's Nick Hernandez. Since the start of last season, Backhus' 12 saves are third most in the Diamondbacks organization, with only former Sod Poodle Blake Rogers (13) and current teammate, Christian Montes De Oca (15) having more. In 11 appearances on the road this season, Backhus carries a 0.59 ERA over 15.1 IP, allowing just one earned run and has 16 strikeouts to just two walks.