Smyth; Barfield Pace Hounds
When the Arkansas Travelers arrived in West Texas Sunday, they hadn't scored a run in 21 innings. The Travs put a "five spot" on the board in the second inning of Sunday's game and didn't stop scoring until … Paul Smyth took the hill at Rocky Town Tuesday night.
Arkansas held a 4-3 lead after five innings, but had also banged out nine hits in that time and had threatened to do more damage (the Travs had scored 23 runs in the first two games of the series). Smyth faced and retired nine consecutive batters and the 'Hounds took advantage.
After tying the game on walks and a wild pitch (very uncharacteristic for Travelers reliever Daniel Tillman, who hadn't walked a batter in four games this season), the 'Hounds took the lead for good in the seventh. Dusty Coleman doubled and Miles Head's two-out RBI double snapped the 4-4 deadlock. Jake Goebbert then delivered an RBI single to provide what would be the final margin.
Kyler Newby followed Smyth (who was the winning pitcher) and earned the save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. The final out came on a sensational play in center field by Goebbert, who made a diving catch with a forward roll off a line drive by Rolando Gomez.
The play was Goebbert's second "web gem" of the series, and was an ironic finish, as errors plagued the 'Hounds throughout the home stand (18 errors in six games).
The 'Hounds took a-2-1 lead in the second inning on Jeremy Barfield's two-run home run deep into the left field corner, and made it 3-1in the third on a Barfield single, a Beau Taylor double and Darwin Perez' sacrifice fly.
Kibbles & Bits
- After opening the season with a 5-1 road trip against Northwest Arkansas and the Travelers, the 'Hounds went 2-4 at home, facing the same two clubs. Frisco was also a winner Tuesday night, while Corpus Christi and San Antonio fell, moving Frisco into the top spot in a (so far) very tight South Division. The RoughRiders are 8-4 … the RockHounds and Corpus Christi are each 7-5, and San Antonio is 6-6. Tulsa and Arkansas share the North Division lead at 5-6.
- Wednesday is a league-wide off day (primarily for travel). The RockHounds now play a four-game series against the Missions at San Antonio (Thursday through Sunday) before returning home next Monday to open an eight-game home stand.
- The next 32 games on the Texas League schedule are all within the division.
Line Score R H E LOB
Arkansas Travelers 4 9 1 5
RockHounds 6 9 3 7
WP Paul Smyth (2-0, 2.70)
LP Caleb Graham (0-1, 9.00)
Sv Kyler Newby (1, 2.70)
HR Arkansas: Matt Long (2) Solo in the 1st (off Zach Neal)
RockHounds: Jeremy Barfield (2) A 2-run HR in the 2nd (off Jarrett Grube)
Next Game
vs. San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' AA Affiliate)
Thursday, April 18 7:05 p.m. Radio at 7:00 p.m.
Nelson Wolff Stadium, San Antonio, TX
Probable Starters
RockHounds (RH) Josh Bowman (1-0, 2.70)
San Antonio (RH) Burch Smith (1-0, 0.00)