Midland Gets Walk-Off Win Over Frisco
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MIDLAND, TEXAS – The Frisco RoughRiders lost in walk-off fashion for the second time in three days in a 3-2 loss against the Midland RockHounds at Citibank Ballpark on Monday night. Midland committed four errors, but the ‘Riders capitalized for just two runs and left on a season-high-tying 12 men on base.
For the third time on the road trip, the RoughRiders (14-24, 53-55) fell behind in the first inning. After allowing a first inning single to go to waste, the ‘Riders gave up a run in the bottom half. Carlos Pimentel surrendered a leadoff single to Connor Crumbliss who then maneuvered his way around the bases on a stolen base, a wild pitch and homeward on a fielder’s choice to score the game’s first run.
Entering the ballgame, Midland’s starter Carlos Hernandez had not been scored upon in 26.1 innings. It took sloppy play behind him, but the ‘Riders ended his streak. After squandering a bases-loaded, one-out chance in the second and leaving two more men on in the third, Frisco got on the scoreboard in the fourth. Midland (16-22, 49-59) made three errors in the span of four batters to allow the ‘Riders to score. Chih-Hsien Chiang led off by reaching on a fielding error by Crumbliss. He moved to second base a throwing error by the first baseman Max Muncy, and then a throwing error by Crumbliss, on a potential inning-ending double play, sailed over Muncy to bring home Chiang and tie the game at 1-1.
Another error helped Frisco score in the fifth. With two outs, Brett Nicholas reached on a fielding error by Muncy to continue the inning. Alex Buchholz was next, and he slammed a double to left field, scoring Nicholas, to give the ‘Riders their only lead of the night at 2-1. The ‘Riders had baserunners in the final three innings but did not score again, although, it appeared that they would not need to.
Carlos Pimentel rebounded from a shaky start. After a one-run first, he stranded two men in the second, another in the third, and finished with six strong innings of one-run ball. He fanned five, walked only one and allowed just four hits-only one came after the second inning. Kyle McClellan, the first reliever used by Frisco, retired all four men he faced, and the RockHounds were down to their last five outs trailing 2-1.
Jimmy Reyes entered and allowed back-to-back singles, one which
clanked off the ‘Riders shortstop Hanser Alberto, putting men at the corners with just one out. Reyes got a big strikeout of Jake Goebbert and then fanned Dusty Coleman, but the third strike to Coleman was a wild pitch, and squirted away from Zach Zaneski. It allowed Coleman to reach, a run to score, and Midland tied it at 2-2.
With the game still tied in the ninth, Joe Van Meter entered and walked the leadoff man. Vinnie Catricala singled as did Beau Taylor, and the ballgame was over. The RockHounds took it by a 3-2 final score, ending a five-game losing streak.
Van Meter (0-3) was victimized by the walk-off loss for the second time on the road trip; he did not record an out in either outing. Mike DeMark (2-2) fired a scoreless ninth inning for the win.
The two teams continue the three-game series on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Citibank Ballpark in Midland. Nick McBride (1-7, 6.53 ERA) starts for Frisco against Midland’s Sean Murphy (6-4, 4.01 ERA). Fans can tune in to the play-by-play broadcast on www.RidersBaseball.com beginning at 6:10.
