Whitaker Announces Arrival With Homer

On Saturday, Josh Whitaker was promoted to the RockHounds from the (Advanced-A) California League Stockton Ports. While he drove in a run in Saturday's double-header at San Antonio with a sacrifice fly, Whitaker was still in search of his first Double-A hit when stepped to the plate in the seventh inning of a 2-2 tie Tuesday afternoon at Frisco.

Turns out the "new kid on the block" also has a great sense of timing. Josh's first hit as a RockHound would be a tie-breaking solo home run to left field at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Jake Goebbert then sealed the deal with a three-run home run in the top of the ninth, as the 'Hounds defeated the RoughRiders, 6-2. 

Goebbert (who drove in four of the club's six runs) and Anthony Aliotti lifted sacrifice flies in the fourth inning, erasing a 1-0 deficit and giving the 'Hounds their first lead. Frisco's Brett Nicholas then hit his second home run in as many games (his 10^th of the season, tied for second in the Texas League), tying the score in the last of the sixth.

In his third start since coming off the disabled list, Arnold Leon turned in an outstanding performance, allowing two runs (earned) on four hits and two walks, striking out three. Jeff Urlaub pitched the seventh and eighth (entering the game with the score 3-2) for his first save.

South Division

Division-leading Corpus Christi hosts San Antonio Tuesday night. Entering that game, the Hooks now lead Frisco by two-and-a-half games … San Antonio by three and the RockHounds by four-and-a-half.  

Kibbles & Bits

- Josh Whitaker hit .283 with eight home runs and a team high 28 RBI in 30 games for Stockton (managed by former RockHounds manage Webster Garrison). The Georgia native was selected by Oakland in the 25^th round of the 2010 draft out of Kennesaw State (GA) University.

-     Anthony Aliotti was named Texas League Batter of the Week for May 6-12. "Ali" leads the league with a .362 average (corrected figure) and was 6-for-13 in the San Antonio series, with two home runs and four RBI. His RBI Tuesday was his team-leading 22^nd.

-     The RockHounds and RoughRiders play the second of back-to-back morning games (11:05 first pitch) Wednesday, then conclude the four-game series Thursday night at 7:05.   With the (weekday) morning games being played during "Rush & Co." on News-Talk 550, there will be no broadcast Wednesday. RockHounds Radio returns Thursday evening (7:00).

WP     Arnold Leon        (2-2, 4.70)

LP       Neil Ramirez       (3-1, 2.93)

Sv      None

 

HR     Frisco                       Brett Nicholas         (10)         Solo in the 6^th (off Arnold Leon)

            RockHounds        Josh Whitaker           (1)         Solo in the 7^th (off Neil Ramirez)

            RockHounds        Jake Goebbert          (5)         A 3-run HR in the 9^th (off Ryan Rodebaugh)

       

Next Game

vs. Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers' AA Affiliate)

Wednesday, May 15       1105 a.m.    No radio broadcast

Dr Pepper Ballpark          Frisco, TX 

 

Probable Starters

RockHounds        (RH)   Sean Murphy      (0-1, 2.74)

Frisco                       (RH)   Kevin Pucetas    (4-3, 4.04)