Miles Head Leads Second Inning Charge in Win
Nice Win … Scary Moment
The RockHounds delayed Frisco's pennant-clinching celebration, winning the opener of a four-game series at San Antonio, but Wednesday night's game also had one of the season's most frightening moments.
Leading off the second, Josh Whitaker was hit in the helmet by a Leonel Campos pitch. Josh went down immediately and stayed, virtually motionless, as both clubs' Athletic Trainers attended to him. A San Antonio Fire Department Emergency crew was summoned and, after immobilizing him, transported Josh to an area hospital.
RockHounds Athletic Trainer Justin Whitehouse, who accompanied Josh in the ambulance to the hospital, indicated that Whitaker "… was evaluated for concussion (symptoms) at the Baptist Medical Center (in downtown San Antonio). He was treated for a face laceration and released into the cared of team personnel. His playing status is day-to-day."
When the game resumed, the RockHounds scored six times, with Miles Head ripping a two-run home run down the left field line. In the inning (which, ironically, opened with Whitaker's hit by pitch and injury) the RockHounds sent 11 batters to plate, with Anthony Aliotti, Beau Taylor, Conner Crumbliss and Chad Oberacker each driving in a run (along with Head's two-run homer).
The eventual game-winning run scored in the seventh. Crumbliss led off with a triple down the right field line and scored on Oberacker's roller to shortstop, despite the infield playing in.
The Missions rallied with two in the eighth, cutting the lead to 7-5. The two runs came against reliever Murphy Smith with Seth Frankoff allowing one inherited runner to score before striking out Rob Kral and Cody Overbeck to end the inning. The Missions scored again in the ninth and had two on when Rymer Liriano bounced out to second to end the game. Frankoff earned his 12th save in 13 opportunities.
Corpus Christi shut out Frisco, 7-0, so the RoughRiders' march to the first half title was halted, at least for one day (see below).
WP: Chris Jensen (3-6, 4.40)
LP: Leonel Campos (0-2, 3.72)
SV: Seth Frankoff (12, 2.76)
HR: RockHounds - Miles Head (7) A 2-run HR in the second (off Matt Branham)
San Antonio - Jason Hagerty (7) Solo in the fourth (off Chris Jensen)
Kibbles & Bits
- Frisco's "magic number" remains two … any combination of RoughRider wins and/or RockHound losses totaling two wins the first half title (there are five games remaining in the half).
- Conner Crumbliss (2-4, two runs, triple, RBI, walk, strikeout) extended his hit streak to seven games. He is 10-28 (.357) with five runs, three doubles, one home run and four RBI in the seven-gamer.
- Chris Jensen (6.0 innings, five hits, three runs, two earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts) broke a personal six-decision losing streak. The streak covered eight starts for Jensen, who has recorded "quality starts" in five-of-the-eight games.
- Because he was hit by a pitch in his only plate appearance, Josh Whitaker's 12- game hit streak remains intact. Josh is 19-47 (.404, HR, 11 RBI) in the 12-gamer and has hit in 15-of-his-last-16 (24-63, .381, HR, 14 RBI). He is second in the Texas League in batting average (.324) and RBI (42) and ranks third in slugging percentage (.537). His playing status, as mentioned (above), is day-to-day.
- The RockHounds and San Antonio meet through Saturday (first pitch each night at 7:05), followed by a quick four-game home stand (Sunday, June 15 through Wednesday, June 18) against Frisco. The first two games of the RoughRider series conclude the first half, with all eight Texas League clubs then reverting to 0-0 to open the second half (June 17).
Next Game
vs. San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' AA Affiliate)
Thursday, June 12 - 7:05 p.m. (Radio at 7:00 p.m.)
Nelson Wolff Stadium - San Antonio, TX
Probable Starters
RockHounds: Zach Neal (RH, 2-0, 0.78)
San Antonio: James Needy (RH, 4-3, 2.70)