Archie Gilbert Breaks Out

By Bob Hards / Midland RockHounds

With Corey Wimberly sidelined, the role of lead-off batter for the RockHounds has gone to Archie Gilbert. Turns out he's a method actor and is absorbed in the role.

In the first inning, Archie singled to left, extending his hit streak to eight games, and he was just getting warmed up. He walked and stole a base in the third ... walked and scored in the fifth .... drove an RBI double to left-center in the sixth ... then capped the RockHounds scoring with his first home run at the Double-A level, a two-run laster into the left field bullpen.
Archie, the lead-off batter, lit the fuse, and the 'Hounds exploded. Chris Carter hit his second home run, part of a 4-for-5 night. The big guy scored twice, drove in his 22nd and 23rd runs, and stole a base for good measure.

Danny Putnam continues to simply abuse the baseball, going 2-for-2 with two walks, a double, an RBI and a stolen base. In his last 13 games, "Putt" has put up a half-season's worth of offense ... a good half-season for a lot of players. In those 13 games, Danny is hitting .429 (24-for-56), with four doubles, five home runs, 17 RBI, 18 runs scored, eight walks, seven K's and two stolen bases!

Matt Sulentic, who starred at Hillcrest High School in Dallas, went 3-for-4, and his home run in the third inning gave the RockHounds the lead for good. Matt, who also has an 8-game hit streak, had a pair of RBI and a steal on the night.

Graham Godfrey turned in his second consecutive quality start, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits. In his last two outings (both against the Missions), Graham has allowed on run on seven hits in 12.0 innings, striking out nine and walking three.

Mike Benacka and former TCU star Sam Demel have been brilliant out of the bullpen. Mike went 2.0 innings and Sam pitched the ninth Friday. Benacka's ERA is now 1.26 and Demel is at 1.17.

In the first five games of the home stand, the RockHounds have now scored 50 runs, taking 4-of-5 games. Frisco was also a winner (9-3 at home over Corpus Christi), so the 'Hounds lead the RoughRiders by three games and have extended their lead to five over Corpus and six over San Antonio (see above).