Late-Inning Home Runs Sink Sod Poodles

Amarillo, TX – The Amarillo Sod Poodles (22-26) were defeated 9-5 in game three against the Midland RockHounds (22-26) on Thursday night at HODGETOWN.

RHP Slade Cecconi came into tonight’s game searching for his third consecutive quality start, and he kicked the game off with a perfect 1st inning. He was scheduled to duel against Ryan Cusick, but Midland’s starter was scratched as he was throwing his warm-up pitches and was replaced by Michael Danielak.

The Amarillo offense gave Cecconi the first lead of the game with a run in the bottom of the 1st. Jorge Barrosa doubled with one out and Ti’Quan Forbes scored him on an RBI single. The score was deja-vu from Wednesday night, when the duo teamed up for a double and an RBI single in the 6th inning.

Midland responded with a pair of doubles to lead off the 2nd that erased the Sod Poodle lead. Cecconi set down the next three batters with two strikeouts to keep the game tied, but the RockHounds took the lead with three runs in the top of the 3rd.

The leadoff batter in the 3rd singled before Cecconi picked up his fourth strikeout, and the next two reached on a walk and a single. With the bases loaded and one out, a ball in play hit Cecconi on the mound. His attempt to throw out the runner went awry, allowing all three runners to score on a single and an error. The next two batters were retired to keep it 4-1, RockHounds.

Amarillo answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 3rd to tie the game at four apiece. Drew Stankiewicz and Eduardo Diaz led off the inning with a double and a single, and Barrosa’s second double of the day scored them both. He was thrown out trying to steal third, but the next three batters reached to load the bases. Blaze Alexander dug in with three on and one out and tied the game with an RBI fielder’s choice.

The Sod Poodles reclaimed the lead with a run in the 4th. Midland walked the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the inning, and Ti’Quan Forbes plated the go-ahead run after being hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. A bases-loaded groundout ended the inning with Amarillo on top, 5-4.

Slade Cecconi tossed a 1-2-3 5th inning to end his night at 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, BB, and 6 K. He finished just one inning short of a quality start, but recorded his fourth game in a row with three or fewer earned runs and five or more innings pitched. He exited with a 5-4 lead, in line for the win. Amarillo loaded the bases for the third time in the bottom of the 5th but couldn’t plate a run.

The RockHounds’ bats came to life in the late innings, plating five runs off of three homers to take a 9-5 lead that secured the win.

Austin Pope entered the game in the 6th inning and struck out the side in a scoreless frame, but Midland took the lead off of him with a two-run home run in the top of the 7th. Junior Garcia entered in the 8th inning but allowed three runs off two homers and was relieved by Ty Tice before recording an out.

Amarillo loaded the bases once again in the bottom of the 8th, but couldn’t cut into the four-run deficit as the inning ended on a lineout. The threat proved to be the last of the game for the Sod Poodles, as they were sat down in order in the 9th.

The RockHounds out-hit Amarillo 15-8, the 9th time this season an opponent has put up 15 or more hits. The Sod Poodles drew a season-high 10 walks but left 11 runners on base and batted 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position. The pitching staff struck out 14, tied for the second-most in a game this season.

The win was Midland’s first of the series, and the Oil Pan Cup rivals will meet again for game four tomorrow, Friday, June 3 with first pitch at 7:05 PM. Amarillo will have Bryce Jarvis (2-2, 6.35 ERA) to face Jack Cushing (4-1, 2.98 ERA) for Midland.

Notes:

High Five: 3B Ti’Quan Forbes extended his hitting streak to a team-leading five games tonight with a single in the 1st inning. He’s been effective over his hot streak with four total runs scored and an RBI in each of his last four games. Forbes continues to excel at HODGETOWN and is now batting .319 in 19 home games this season. The former Rangers and White Sox prospect also stole a base for the second game in a row, giving him four on the year.

Double-Double: OF Jorge Barrosa doubled in the bottom of the 1st and came around to score on an RBI single from Ti’Quan Forbes, the pair’s second game in a row linking up for a double and an RBI single. Barrosa doubled again in the bottom of the 3rd, a ground-rule to left field that scored two runs. All three of his hits over the last two games have been doubles. On the year, the outfielder is batting .228 with seven doubles and 15 RBI.

Blaze On Base: SS Blaze Alexander reached base three times tonight, extending his active on-base streak to 12 games. He drew a walk, singled, and notched an RBI on a fielder’s choice. Over his dozen-game streak, the speedy shortstop is batting .278 with 10 hits, eight walks, and five RBI.

Walk Party: The Sod Poodles drew 10 walks as a team tonight, the most in any game so far this season. Lyle Lin, Drew Stankiewicz, and Andy Yerzy each drew two, and Leandro Cedeño led the way with three bases on balls. The Sod Poodles loaded the bases four times tonight but left 11 runners on base in the four-run loss.

Speed Poodles: The Sod Poodles continued to be aggressive on the bases tonight and stole three bags on four attempts. Ti’Quan Forbes, Eduardo Diaz, and Blaze Alexander each swiped a bag, and tonight was the second game in a row that Amarillo stole three bases. On the year, the Sod Poodles rank fourth in the Texas League with 62 steals.

Welcome Back: C Lyle Lin made his 2022 Amarillo debut tonight, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. The season debut was Lin’s first time playing at HODGETOWN since September 19, 2021. Lin played 10 games for Amarillo last season and batted .273 with a home run and six RBI. The former Arizona State Sun Devil is in his third minor league season after becoming the first Taiwanese player to ever be selected in the MLB Draft back in 2019.