Sod Poodles Bats Come Alive, Giesting Shines Again, Troy On A Tear

The streak is over. The Sod Poodles finally claimed their first home victory, and thanks to another great start from Spencer Giesting, and the bats absolutely exploading, it was never really in doubt.

Spencer Giesting / Max Rajcic

The Sod Poodles got exactly what they needed from Spencer Giesting last night. After a scoreless first outing in San Antonio, Giesting found himself the only Sod Poodles starter to start a victory. The Sod Poodles were in the midst of a 4 game losing streak, lasting since his start last Sunday in San Antonio, when he stepped on the moud Saturday night at Hodgetown. Giesting didn’t dissapoint. The lefty worked out of early trouble after Springfield loaded the bases in the 1st and 3rd innings, but Giesting would come out of both unscathed. The former Charlotte 49er went 5 scoreless innings before running into trouble in the 6th when he would be charged with 3 earned runs to close his book. Giesting like the rest of the Amarillo staff right now had a little bit of a walk issue, totaling 4 on the night, but still managed to tie his season high for strikeouts at 5.

Amarillo struck first last night against right hander and #23 Cardinal’s prospect Max Rajcic. The starter got through 2 innings before a Tommy Troy walk followed by the next 3 batters collecting three legs of the cycle in order. Groover singled, Cerda doubled, and Roberts tripled. The Sod Poodles batted around consecutive innings in the 3rd and 4th, returning the favor to a Cardinals team that had out scored them 37 to 22 prior to the 15 run outburst by the Sod Poodles bats on Saturday night. 5 Sod Poodles had multi-hit games. Caleb Roberts delivered not one but two extra base hits of his own, to go with his RBI triple Roberts smacked a double in the 4th. Kristian Robinson and Christian Cerda each delivered a pair of extra base hits, Cerda hit two doubles and Robinson doubled and homered.

Kristian Robinson Double, Caleb Roberts Triple

Tommy Troy Makes Himself at Home

1.581, that’s what Arizona’s #8 Prospect Tommy Troy’s OPS is the through 5 games on the homestand. A “Really relaxed and really confident” Troy has reached base multiple times every game at Hodgetown, including 5 times on Saturday night, going 4-5 with a walk, 2 doubles, and 2 singles. Troy actually did something that the great Sod Poodles announcer Zach Goodman pointed out tonight, the Sod Poodles second basemen lead off 3 consecutive innings on a much needed hot night for the bats. The walk was his seventh in the series bumping his OBP to .575 on the year, jumping .218 points in the 5 games stretch. Troy also swiped his first bag of 2025 last night, after totaling 16 steals in 2024.

Groover is Groovin’

That’s right I said 15 games. LuJames Groover, Arizona’s #10 Prospect, continued his tear to start the season on Saturday, and launched his first home run of 2025, while extending his hitting streak this season to 8. After finishing 2024 with a 7 game hit streak, and the 8 in 2025 actually comes out to a 15 game streak, meaning that Groover has hit in 90% of his games that he has played in a Sod Poodle uniform. Groover knew his blast was gone off that bat to left field, and that homer was Groover’s second hit of the evening. So far this season Groover is slashing .371 / .421 / .571 / .992, with 5 extra base hits and 3 walks. Groover has been the steady hand that Amarillo has needed the entire year and continues to tear up crush the baseball, while playing a solid third base.

LuJames Groover’s First HR of 2025

Today’s Pitching Matchup

Springfield – Left Handed Pitcher Pete Hansen

2025: 2.25 ERA / 4.0 IP / 3 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 7 K / 1 BB

After holding the Soddies to one run in the beginning of this series, the former Texas Longhorn will get one more crack at this Sod Poodles lineup after their offensive explosion. Hansen struck out 7 Sod Poodles the last time out with the only damage coming from a Christian Cerda solo shot to start the second inning. Cerda and corner infielder Jose Fernandez were Amarillo’s only two with multiple hits off of Hansen.

Amarillo – Right Handed Pitcher Roman Angelo

2025: 16.62 ERA / 9 H / 8 R / 8 ER / 1 K / 2 BB

Through 4 innings in the home opener Angelo had only given up 3 runs, a solo shot in each of the previous innings, but in the 5th the flood gates opened. The Cardinals put up a 5-run 5th inning tarnishing what would have a decent start. Angelo will get one more try against Springfield. Part of his spectacular series, Chase Davis tagged Angelo twice with Jeremy Rivas, and Dakota Harris also homering. Angelo uncharacteristically onlt struck out one batter in the opener, and I would expect a total different outcome today in that department.

The now 2-6 Sod Poodles turned Calf-Fries get one more shot at 6-2 Springfield tomorrow at 1:05 PM!

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