TEXAS LEAGUE BASEBALL: RockHounds blank Travelers to open series

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Midland RockHounds got off to a fast start Friday and Matt Milburn combined with two relievers on a shutout in a 7-0 victory against the Arkansas Travelers in the opener of their Texas League Series at Dickey-Stephens Park.

The victory kept Midland, which has won eight of its last 10, a half-game ahead of Frisco in the South Division standings with three games remaining in the first half.

Milburn (4-4) scattered seven hits, all singles, over 6.2 innings. He struck out three and walked two. Relievers Cody Stull and Angel Duno combined for four strikeouts and one hit over the final 2.1 innings.

Mikey White went 4 for 4 and Luis Barrera was 3 for 6 as Midland totaled 17 hits. Brallan Perez finished 3 for 5, Tyler Ramirez was 2 for 4 and Kevin Merrell was 2 for 5.

The RockHounds gave Milburn all the support he would need before recording an out in a five-run first inning. The first five Midland batters had hits as Barrera led off the game with a triple and White followed with an RBI double. Dairon Blanco singled in a run, Greg Deichmann added a two-run double and Merrell doubled in the fifth run.

Arkansas starter Ricardo Sanchez (5-5) was charged with five runs on 10 hits over 3.2 innings. He struck out eight.

Midland added two runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Barrera and Ramirez.