Hounds Hit Six Homeruns in Win
The Frisco RoughRiders appear on local cable television multiple times each season and Sunday was one of those games. The TV folks could only have wished to be able to "… move to further action" in their broadcast. The RockHounds scored five runs in the first … three more in the second … and put six more runs on the board in the fifth to lead, 14-2, after five innings.
The RockHounds hit six home runs, including three consecutive homers in the fifth, with Darwin Perez, Anthony Aliotti and Jake Gobbert going back-to-back-to-back.
Dusty Coleman capped the five-run first with his second home run of the year, a three-run drive that just cleared the wall (through a cross-wind) in right. Dusty previously had a potential homer brought back from over the wall in Springfield, Missouri, by outfielder Tommy Pham, and Frisco's Chih-Hsien Chang made a similar effort at the wall Sunday, but this one "got out" and gave the 'Hounds a 5-0 lead.
Vinnie Catricala's second inning solo shot was the most impressive of the day's seven home runs (Frisco's Eric Buchholz had a solo homer), a towering drive that cleared the "Diamond Deck," a seating area with a tall, A-frame roof, behind the left field wall.
After the RoughRiders put their first two runs on the board in the fourth, the 'Hounds answered with a six-run fifth. The "hat trick" of home runs came consecutively and with two out. Perez had the first of the three, with two men on, clearing the wall in right. Aliotti followed with his 10th of the year, to almost the exact same spot in right, and Goebbert sent an opposite field drive to the grass berm just left of straightaway center. Jake's home run was his team-leading 12th.
Chad Oberacker closed the game with his second of the season, hit against (position player) Guilder Rodriguez in the ninth. Rodriguez, it should be noted, was making his second appearance on the mound, and was 1-0 after tossing a scoreless inning in an extra-innings Frisco win.
Kibbles & Bits
- The RockHounds won their second in-a-row, both on excellent all-around performances. The 'Hounds are 18-15 on the road and a surprising 15-21 at home.
- Anthony Aliott's home run was his 10th, and the All-Star first baseman went 2-for-4, scoring three times and drawing two walks. He now leads the league with 94 hits (no other player had more than 78 entering Sunday's games) with one game remaining in the first half. His walks were #'s 50 and 51, also a league-leading total. Ali is hitting .362, leading the league by nearly thirty points.
- The RockHounds and RoughRiders meet Monday and Tuesday (7:05 both evenings) and cap the set with an 11:05 a.m. start Wednesday. Monday's game is the end of the first half pennant race, with a new, 70-game half opening with Tuesday's games.
- The 'Hounds then return home for a four-game home stand, beginning with a "Thirsty Thursday" (June 20) and including Electronics Giveaway Night (sponsored by Best Buy) on Friday the 21st and a post-game fireworks show on Saturday the 22nd.
WP Sean Murphy (4-2, 3.75)
LP Kevin Pucetas (3-3, 4.26)
SV None
H R RockHounds - Dusty Coleman (2) A 3-run HR in the 1st (off Kevin Pucetas)
RockHounds - Vinnie Catricala (1) Solo in the 2nd (off Kevin Pucetas)
RockHounds - Darwin Perez (3) A 3-run HR in the 5th (off Arlett Mavare)
RockHounds - Anthony Aliotti (10) Solo in the 5th (off Arlett Mavare)
RockHounds - Jake Goebbert (12) Solo in the 5th (off Arlett Mavare)
Frisco - Alex Buchholz (6) Solo in the 6th (off Sean Murphy)
RockHounds - Chad Oberacker (2) Solo in the 9th (off Guilder Rodriguez)
Next Game
vs. Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers' AA Affiliate)
Monday, June 17 7:05 p.m. Radio at 7:00 p.m.
Dr Pepper Ballpark Frisco, TX
Probable Starters
Frisco (RH) Nick McBride (0-2, 9.00)
RockHounds (RH) Carlos Hernandez (3-5, 3.39)