Fast Start, Dominant Pitching Help Claim Series
Midland, Texas – Amarillo once again jumped out in front, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. The Soddies went on to win the series finale 8-3 to clinch a series win over their Oil Pan Cup rivals on Sunday afternoon. It was another productive first inning
Midland, Texas – Amarillo once again jumped out in front, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. The Soddies went on to win the series finale 8-3 to clinch a series win over their Oil Pan Cup rivals on Sunday afternoon.
It was another productive first inning for the Sod Poodles. Jorge Barrosa and Leandro Cedeño singled ahead of Eduardo Diaz who doubled in the first run of the game. Down to an 0-2 count with two outs, Tim Tawa blasted his second home run of the year in Double-A to put the Sod Poodles ahead 4-0
Eduardo Diaz got the scoring started with a RBI double.
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) July 24, 2022
Tim Tawa added to it with his 2nd 💣 in Double-A
M 1 | AMA - 4 | MID - 0 pic.twitter.com/N5Y5XUYnTX
Brandon Pfaadt made quick work of the first two innings, striking out one n the first and all three he faced in the bottom of the second. The Arizona Diamondbacks' No. 8 rated prospect entered the day with the third most strikeouts in all Minor League Baseball.
Diaz added to his box score, launching an 0-2 off-speed pitch over the left-field wall for a five-run lead in the top of the 3rd. The Venezuela native hit his ninth home run of the year a season after finishing tied for third in the system with 21 home runs.
Our hitters are feasting on 0-2 counts today.
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) July 24, 2022
See below for more evidence.
M 4 | AMA - 5 | MID - 0 pic.twitter.com/jtLX36rspe
Back to work in the bottom of the third, Brandon Pfaadt alternated strikeouts and singles as he struck out the side for his second straight inning of work, getting up to seven for the afternoon. The right-hander struck out at least two in two of his next three innings, giving him 11 through 6.0 IP and one shy of his career-high. He issued another two walks in the sixth but left both stranded as he kept the RockHounds off the scoreboard.
Barrosa added to his big series, adding a RBI Double in the top of the 7th for a 6-0 lead before the game went to the stretch.
Pfaadt's day came to an end with Brent Teller taking over on the mound for the bottom of the seventh. The right-hander saw the bases loaded after a hit, walk, and hit by pitch. Yorvin Pantoja came on to make another pitching change and kept the bases loaded with a strikeout to maintain the 6-run lead.
Midland battled back with three runs in the bottom of the 8th including a pair of home runs in the frame to cut the lead in half. Amarillo responded by tacking on a run in the top of the 9th thanks to a Drew Stankiewicz RBI groundout.
Jake Rice ended the game on the mound pitching the last 1.1 IP while allowing just one hit and no runs.
The Sod Poodles will return to HODGETOWN for the start of a six-game series against the Corpus Christi Hooks starting on Tuesday, July 26.
Notes:
King Of Strikeouts: Brandon Pfaadt continued to do what he has done all year long, strike batters out. The Arizona Diamondbacks' No.8 rated prospect picked up 11 strikeouts over his 6.0 IP while allowing zero runs on 5 hits. Pfaadt entered the day with the third most strikeouts in the minor leagues and ended his outing leading the minors with 136 strikeouts.
🔟 @b_pfaadt K's today.
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) July 24, 2022
Is 10 strikeouts through 21 batters faced good? asking for a friend. pic.twitter.com/TwqeGbH523
TAWA TOWERING: Tim Tawa blasted his second Double-A home run in the top of the first inning. It was his first home run in a Sod Poodles jersey since July 12 against San Antonio. The former Stanford Cardinal hit eight home runs for High-A Hillsboro before being transferred to Amarillo. In his first 118 professional games, Tawa now has 16 home runs to start his career.
Eduard-Oh Yes He Did: Eduardo Diaz finished his day 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a home run, coming a triple shy of the cycle. He improved on his team lead for doubles, now with 19 on the year. His home run in the third inning was his ninth of the year. This after hitting 21 a season ago to finish T-3rd in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization. Diaz finished the series hitting .538 (7-for-13) with four runs scored. His two doubles on Sunday were the first of the series as was his home run. He drove in two runs in his three games played.
1st Inning Bullies: The Sod Poodles jumped out to three leads over the three-game weekend series. Amarillo scored 12 runs in the opening frame of the three-game set. Amarillo has now scored 57 runs in the first inning through 90 games played.