Frisco Takes Series At Midland
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MIDLAND, TEXAS – The Frisco RoughRiders captured their first series win in nearly a month with a 2-1 win over the RockHounds on Wednesday night at Citibank Ballpark. With the win, the ‘Riders returned to an even .500 record.
In both innings that the ‘Riders scored, the RockHounds (16-24, 49-61) committed an error, but both runs scored were earned. In the first, Ryan Strausborger reached on a one-out single. He stole second and got to third base when the Midland shortstop Darwin Perez couldn’t handle the throw from catcher Beau Taylor. After a strikeout of Brett Nicholas, Joe Benson socked a single up the middle to give the ‘Riders a 1-0 lead.
Matt Harrison made the start for the RoughRiders (16-24, 55-55) rehabbing from surgery to repair a herniated disc. He threw 31 pitches and faced seven batters, retired four, two on strikes. He walked one man and allowed two singles, and left the ballgame in the second inning. Kevin Pucetas did not allow the inherited runners to score, and Frisco led 1-0 after two innings.
The score remained that way until the fifth. After 2.2 scoreless innings from
Pucetas, Phil Klein allowed a fifth inning run on a bunt single, a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch and a ground ball RBI single to tie the game. The ‘Riders though, struck right back.
Odubel Herrera walked to lead off the top of the sixth against Midland’s starter Drew Granier. Guilder Rodriguez moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt to bring up Hanser Alberto. He drove in his double-play partner with an RBI single to retake the lead at 2-1 and knock Granier out of the game.
The Frisco bullpen did what they needed to do the rest of the way. Klein combined with Richard Bleier and Lisalverto Bonilla to shut out the Hounds over the final four innings.
Klein (4-0) earned the win, allowing one run in two innings of work. Granier (2-5) struck out nine but was handed the loss in his first meeting against the RoughRiders. Bonilla (2) nailed down his second Texas League save with a hitless ninth.
The RoughRiders return home to host the San Antonio Missions for four games beginning on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Arlett Mavare (1-2, 4.74 ERA) makes the start in the first game of the series for the ‘Riders. The Missions will send Donn Roach (6-9, 3.76 ERA) to the mound. Fans can tune in to the play-by-play broadcast on www.RidersBaseball.com beginning at 6:40.
