RockHounds Rally Late to Beat the Missions

Abner Doubleday didn't invent baseball but, if he had, he certainly didn't have playing the game in 35-mile-per-hour winds in mind.
The RockHounds and San Antonio played in those conditions, start to finish, Friday night, with the RockHounds rallying back in the last of the eighth inning for a 3-2 win in a game that was remarkably well played.
Eli White's two-run triple erased a 1-0 Missions lead that had stood since the first inning. The game's first batter, Forrestt Allday, sent an opposite field double into the left field corner, moved to third on one ground out and scored on another (off the bat of Fernando Tatis, Jr.).
In the home half of the eighth, Seth Brown greeted Missions reliever Erik Johnson with a single up the middle and Santiago Chávez drew a four-pitch walk. First baseman Josh Naylor's outstanding defensive play denied J.P. Sportman's sacrifice bunt attempt, getting Brown at third, before White sent his drive to left field. The wind, the top-spin on the swing and Security Bank Ballpark's rounded left field combined to send the ball caroming away from left fielder Rod Boykin, scoring Chavez and Sportman, with White easily getting to third.
With two out, Allday misplayed Sean Murphy's pop fly to right, allowing White to score what would become the game-winning run. The Missions put together a two-out rally against reliever Jake Sanchez, scoring once and putting the tying run on at third before Sanchez got the final out. Ironically, the last out was a fly ball to right, with Tyler Marincov (carefully) making the play to seal the win.
While the wind was a major factor, turning outs into hits (and vice versa), the clubs committed only two errors and the 'Hounds miscue had nothing to do with the wind. Starter Norge Ruiz (see below) bobbled Naylor's third-inning bunt and threw wide to first base attempting to make the play. Remarkably and (again) ironically, the only wind-related error was Murphy's fly to shallow right on which the game-winning run scored.
The RockHounds improved to 9-5 (6-2 at Rocky Town), one game ahead of the Missions and Corpus Christi (both 8-6) in the Texas League South Division.
Notables                                                                                                                                          
Both starting pitchers were outstanding. San Antonio's Jerry Keel went seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out four. Norge Ruiz, who struggled in his season debut against Tulsa, turned in his second consecutive outstanding start, allowing one run on six hits over five-and-a-third innings with one hit batsman and five K's.
The Missions threatened several times in the early and middle innings, including River Stevens' leadoff triple in the fifth. Ruiz struck out two batters and induced a pop up (an adventure in the 35-mph wind) to escape.
J.P. Sportman made two outstanding plays at second base and combined with shortstop Eli White for the game's biggest defensive play. After Naylor led off the eighth with a single, Tatis, Jr. sent a sharp grounder up the middle. White ranged to his left, behind the bag, to get to the ball. Sportman bare-handed Eli's back-handed flip to the bag and relayed to Seth Brown, who made a nice pick on the throw to complete the double play.
Saturday's game will tie the Texas League's all-time record for most games between two franchises (San Antonio versus the Cubs, Angels and RockHounds), matching Dallas vs. Fort Worth with 1,415 all-time meetings. Sunday's game will make the rivalry the most prolific in the league's 130-year history.   
Completely Useless but Kinda Cool Stat(s)                                                                               
Again?? In Thursday's series opener, Missions third baseman Ty France was hit by pitch in each of his first three trips to the plate. There was one hit batsman Friday. Yep. Ty France.  
Next Game                                                  
Saturday, April 21       vs. San Antonio Missions
Security Bank Ballpark           7:00 p.m. (Gates open at 6:00)
- Third of a four-game series and homestand
- Celebration globes for the first 1,000 fans
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:47 p.m.
Probable Starters          
SAN: Jesse Scholtens (RH, 1-1, 1.50)
RCK  Kyle Friedrichs       (RH, 1-0, 4.09)