RoughRiders Lose To Cardinals
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FRISCO, TEXAS – The Frisco RoughRiders gave up an early lead and fell to the Springfield Cardinals 9-7 Tuesday at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Rangers’ designated hitter Lance Berkman went one-for-three with a run in his rehab appearance.
The RoughRiders (19-32, 58-63) showed their power early, taking a first-inning lead. Luis Sardinas and Rougned Odor both reached base to lead off the frame, and Brett Nicholas flyed out to left to bring Sardinas home from second. Kalian Sams then slammed a two-run homer over the left fence, and Joe Benson followed with a solo long ball to put the ‘Riders up 4-0.
In the second, Springfield (27-24, 60-59) closed the deficit after Xavier Scruggs led off the first with a walk. Stephen Piscotty singled left, and then Cody Stanley knocked an RBI single to center. Starlin Rodriguez flyed out to left, bringing home a second run, closing the Frisco lead 4-2.
With two out in the second, Odor singled to right, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch by Seth Blair. Lance Berkman then knocked an RBI single to shallow right. Nicholas extended Frisco’s lead 7-2 with a two-run home run over the left fence.
The Cardinals added two runs in the third off an error by Tomas Telis and an Arlett Mavare wild pitch. With two outs in the fifth, Piscotty reached base on a fielding error by Odor and Stanley singled left. Rodriguez doubled in the two runs, and later in the frame, Luis Mateo knocked in the tying run.
After three scoreless frames, Springfield claimed their first lead of
the game. Mateo hit a bunt single, and then Vince Albitz got hit by the pitch. The two runners stole base, and then Melker singled to bring home Mateo. Albitz scored on the fielding error by Telis, giving the Cardinals the 9-7 lead, which became the final score.
Kevin Thomas (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts to earn the victory while Richard Bleier (3-5) allowed two runs on four hits in three innings to suffer the defeat. Jose Almarante pitched a scoreless ninth to be credited with his third save.
The ‘Riders continue their series with the Cardinals Wednesday at Dr Pepper Ballpark at 7:05. Luke Jackson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make the start for the RoughRiders. Springfield will counter with Richard Castillo(7-7, 4.14 ERA). Fans can listen to the play-by-play on www.RidersBaseball.com beginning at 6:40 p.m. For information on tickets to see the RoughRiders in 2013, please call (972) 731-9200, email info@ridersbaseball.com or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.
