RockHounds Walk Off Winners Again
Midland, TX - Home Runs, Duck Snorts, Comebacks & Walk-Offs
In the first two games of their four-game series, the RockHounds and San Antonio had combined to score six runs in 22 innings. The 'Hounds and Missions scored eight runs Thursday night … in the ninth inning alone … in a game that saw two ties and three lead changes.
San Antonio built leads of 4-1 and 5-4 … the 'Hounds answered to tie the game twice before taking a 6-5 lead. San Antonio scored four times in the top of the ninth for a 9-6 lead, and the RockHounds promptly answered with four of their own in the bottom of the ninth, "walking off" on Chad Oberacker's two-run double into the right field corner.
"Obie" had a huge game, going 3-for-5 with a game-tying three-run home run in the fourth (and the game-winning walk-off in the ninth).
Josh Whitaker busted out of a slump, collecting four consecutive hits and driving in three runs. Josh had a pair of doubles, including a two-run shot down the left field line in the ninth-inning rally, cutting the deficit to 9-8. Before his first double (in the fourth), Josh was 4-for-his-last-39; he said "so long to that slump with hits in each of his next four at bats.
D'Arby Myers was, again, "center stage," ripping an RBI double down the left field line in the first inning, extending his hit streak to 32 games … the longest hit streak in all of professional baseball in 2013. D'Arby finished 2-for-5, adding a flair to shallow left that dropped (your basic baseball "duck snort") in the seventh. He would then score the go-ahead run when Whitaker added a "second snort" … a pop up what dropped in shallow right just inside the foul line.
The clubs also went deep, hitting almost as many home runs in the game (four) and as they had scored runs in the first 22 innings (six).
Kibbles & Bits
- D'Arby Myers has become a "national story" with his 32-game streak, now the longest in professional baseball this season by five games (Boston's David Ortiz and Colorado's Michael Cuddyer had 27-gamers). In the streak, which began July 21, D'Arby is hitting .356 (48-135), and has raised his batting average by 28 points. He is now hitting .288 for the season, fifth in the Texas League batting race (former RockHound Anthony Aliotti leads the league at .350).
- Jefry Marte hit a game-tying solo home run in the fifth inning and finished 2-for-4 (his second hit started the ninth-inning rally). Jefry has now hit in 14-of-his-last-15 games (and has reached base in 15 straight), hitting .426 (26-61) in that time. Over his last 24 games, the 'Hounds' third baseman is hitting .360 (32-89).
- Conner Crumbliss got the offense on track in the first with a "hustle double," and scored the 'Hounds' first run, finishing 2-for-5. Conner has reached base in 44-of-his-last-47 games, with hits in 13-of-his-last-16 (22-66, .333). He ranks seventh in the league batting race at .284 … is fifth in walks (65) and third in on-base percentage (.407).
Rocky Town
- The RockHounds wrap up their four-game series versus San Antonio Friday night, with the first pitch at seven o'clock. The 'Hounds then conclude the 2013 Texas League season, hosting the Frisco RoughRiders in a three-game Labor Day weekend series. Saturday night's game will be followed by the season's final fireworks show, and the Sunday and (Labor Day) Monday games are both four o'clock starts.
WP:Mike DeMark (3-3, 5.84)
LP: Clay Zavada (0-2, 3.92)
SV: None
HR: San Antonio - Adam Buschini (8) - A 3-run HR in the 1st- (off Drew Carpenter)
San Antonio - Jeudy Valdez (10) - Solo in the 2nd (off Drew Carpenter)
RockHounds - Chad Oberacker (6) - A 3-run HR in the 4th (off Eddie Bonine)
San Antonio - Jefry Marte (2) - Solo in the 5th (off Eddie Bonine)
Next Game
vs. San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' AA Affiliate)
Friday, August 30 - 7:00 p.m. (Radio at 6:55 p.m.)
Friday's broadcast will be aired on Classic Rock 102 (102.1-FM)
Citibank Ballpark
Probable Starters
San Antonio: (RH) Matt Wisler (8-4, 2.67)
RockHounds: (RH) Murphy Smith (8-8, 3.59)