Amarillo Drops Friday Night Clash

MIDLAND, Texas - The Amarillo Sod Poodles fell to the Midland RockHounds 8-3 on Friday night. A five-run bottom of the third inning propelled the RockHounds to their first win of the series and stopped the three-game slide as Amarillo continues to push for a playoff spot.

The two clubs combined for just two hits over the first two and a half innings of play on Friday night. Jorge Barrosa notched a two-out single in the top of the third but was left stranded.

Midland strung together five runs on six hits in the bottom of the third inning for the game's first runs. The inning also brought an end to the night for Sod Poodles' starter Deyni Olivero. Austin Pope took over on the bump after Leandro Cedeño hit a leadoff single in the fourth but saw the next three batters retired.

The RockHounds added two more runs off Pope in his first inning of work, but the right-hander battled back to end the inning with his first strikeout of the game. He struck out the side in order in the bottom of the fifth.

Cedeño added his second hit of the game - the third Amarillo hit overall - to start the top of the sixth. Roby Enriquez was hit by a pitch putting two on board for Blaze Alexander. The newly appointed No. 15 rated prospect in the D-backs' farm system scored both with his 13th double of the season.

The Sod Poodles cut a little more into the deficit in the top of the seventh. Jorge Barrosa reached base thanks to an error and later stole second base before a fly-out allowed him to move up to third. Cedeño scored him with a deep fly ball to right field, making it 7-3 Midland.

After Pope, Justin Lewis was the third reliever used by the Sod Poodles. The right-hander fired two hitless innings and struck out four himself.

Amarillo managed to get three base runners on over the eighth and ninth innings but failed to draw any closer to the RockHounds lead. Back-to-back one-out singles off the bat of Stankiewicz and Barrosa highlighted the top of the ninth inning for the Soddies.

The series continues the rest of the weekend from Momentum Bank Ballpark with the Sod Poodles leading 3-1 in the series. RHP Bryce Jarvis takes the mound for Amarillo. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Notes:

Cedeño Continues: 1B/DH Leandro Cedeño continues to hit the ball well at the top of the Amarillo lineup. The slugger went 2-for-3 on Friday, a game after a career-best 5-for-5 game last night. He had two of the first three Amarillo hits for the game and also collected a RBI in the top of the 7th inning.

Arm Barn: The duo of Austin Pope and Justin Lewis combined for 4.0 IP with eight strikeouts. After being the first man out of the bullpen in relief of Deyni Olivero, Austin Pope allowed three hits and two runs before collecting his first strikeout of the night to end the bottom of the 4th. He then struck out all three he faced in the fifth inning. Justin Lewis relieved Pope, and did not allow a hit in his 2.0 IP but did issue a walk.

Hip Hip: OF Jorge Barrosa pitched in with a two-hit night. The D-backs' No. 19 rated prospect went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base. Barrosa is now hitting .276 on the year in 88 games with 22 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, and 46 RBI. His fifth-inning walk was his 55th with Amarillo and 56th of his season which ranks second in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization behind fellow outfielder Corbin Carroll (60).

32 For Roby: OF Roby Enriquez extended his on-base streak to 32 games after being hit by a pitch. It's the longest such streak in the minor leagues currently. During this streak, Enriquez is hitting .386 with 15 XBH and 27 RBI.