RoughRiders Beat Midland
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MIDLAND, TEXAS – The Frisco RoughRiders scored five unanswered runs over a two-inning stretch and withstood another late Midland charge to secure a 5-4 triumph Tuesday afternoon for their second straight win at Security Bank Ballpark.
The ‘Riders scored four unearned runs and overcame an early 3-0 hole with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The Tuesday matinee started at 11 in the morning (the RoughRiders’ third pre-noon start of the season).
Midland cut the score to 5-4 with an RBI single in the seventh from Anthony Aliotti, the reigning Texas League Offensive Player of the Week.
The RockHounds did not score the rest of the way, however, and Phil Klein saved his second ballgame of the season. Over two innings, Klein allowed one hit and avoided a ninth inning scare to preserve the win.
Colin Walsh drew a walk with two-outs and the game should have been over when Aliotti grounded to short. A fielding error on Frisco’s Edwin Garcia allowed Aliotti to reach safely and put two runners on for Josh Whitaker.
Whitaker had already homered in the game and nearly shipped another
ball out of the park, but Drew Robinson made a catch with his back at the fence in right field and the RoughRiders escaped.
Jon Edwards (1-0) earned his first win of the season and pitched two innings in relief of ‘Riders starter Kyle Lotzkar. Edwards allowed one run and two hits with one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 23 of his 34 pitches for strikes.
Ryan Dull (3-1) took his first loss in 2014. He entered the game to open the sixth inning for RockHounds’ starter Nate Long. With the score tied at 3-3, Dull allowed two runs (one earned run) and two hits over his only inning and saw the ‘Riders take their first lead of the game, 5-3.
With the win, Frisco (25-13) is now a league-best 10-1 in one-run games. The ‘Riders extend their lead atop the Texas League South Division to four games over Midland.
Midland (21-17) has now lost five of six to the ‘Riders on the season series and drops their third straight game.
A short porch in right field at Security Bank Ballpark combined with 17 mph winds brewed an environment favorable to hitters on Tuesday. Both starting pitchers fell victim to the circumstances.
Whitaker went deep for the second straight game with a two-run shot to right off Lotzkar in the first inning. The right-hander finished with two runs and three hits allowed over three innings with two walks and six strikeouts.
The ‘Riders received their own pair of wind-aided runs in the fifth when a fly ball from Trever Adams coasted on the Jetstream out to right. The ball stayed in the park, but Garcia and Robinson scored to put Frisco on the board for the first time.
Midland starter Nate Long did not allow a hit to the RoughRiders for the first 3 1/3 innings. Frisco jolted awake in the day game thanks to three unearned runs in the fifth inning.
An error on Midland shortstop Dusty Coleman allowed Teodoro Martinez to reach with one out in the frame. As a result, the ‘Riders three subsequent runs were unearned.
After the two-run double by Adams, Jake Smolinski doubled down the left field line to tie the game at 3-3.
The RoughRiders took the lead for good in the sixth due in large part to anther Midland error. Dull could not complete a routine throw to first on a nubber by Odubel Herrera, and with two on and one out, Martinez drove Ryan Rua home with a single to center.
Garcia followed with a double down the line to score Herrera, the fourth unearned run of the day for the ‘Riders.
Frisco fell behind 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Edwards allowed an RBI single to Beau Taylor.
The ‘Riders will enjoy an evening off and hit the diamond for game three of their series with the RockHounds at 6:30 p.m. from Security Bank Ballpark. Coverage begins 6:10 p.m. on www.ridersbaseball.com with the Frisco RoughRiders Pregame Show.
The ‘Riders return to Dr Pepper Ballpark on Wednesday, May 21 to begin a three-game series with the Tulsa Drillers. For tickets to see the ‘Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail Info@RidersBaseball.com or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.
