NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Midland RockHounds used a pair of three-run innings and James Naile pitched into the seventh Saturday in a 6-3 victory against the Arkansas Travelers in Texas League action at Dickey-Stephens Park.
The RockHounds maintained sole possession of first place in the South Division standings with two games remaining in the first half. Midland leads Frisco and Amarillo by 1½ games with Corpus Christi two back.
Midland’s Dairon Blanco, who drove in two runs, and Mikey White each finished 2 for 5, while Edwin Diaz and Brallan Perez both went 2 for 4.
Naile (5-4) was charged with three runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked four and struck out eight.
Kyle Finnegan pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two, for his league-leading ninth save.
The RockHounds got to Arkansas starter Andrew Moore (1-1) in the second inning when Greg Deichman doubled in a run, Kevin Merrell followed with a sacrifice fly and Perez added an RBI single. The Travelers cut it to 3-2 in the fifth on a two-run single by Donnie Walton, who finished 3 for 4.
Midland extended its lead in the seventh on White’s RBI single and Blanco’s two-run single. Jake Fraley had a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the Travelers.
The RockHounds and Travelers wrap up theeir series at 2:10 p.m. Sunday before Midland comes home to close out the first half against Springfield at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Security Bank Ballpark.
