RoughRiders Win In Tulsa
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TULSA, OKLA. – The Frisco RoughRiders captured their third straight win with a 3-1 victory over the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field on Saturday night. With the win, the ‘Riders are six games over .500 for the first time this season.
Neil Ramirez didn’t have his best command but battled to keep the Drillers (22-25) off the scoreboard. The Frisco starter got out of jams with two men on base on three different occasions in his six innings of work.
The biggest threat against him came in the fourth when he allowed back-to-back singles to Kiel Roling and Kyle Parker to lead off the frame. After inducing a fly out, both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch with just one out. Ramirez got Angelys Nina to ground out to first and then Dustin Garneau to pop out to end the threat.
Continuing his trend this season, Ramirez was once again difficult to hit. The Drillers went just 2-for-19 against him, lowering his Texas League leading batting average against to .166. In total, Ramirez went six innings of shutout baseball. He surrendered just two hits but walked five. He struck
out four, which tied his season low.
Frisco (27-21) scored all their runs on one swing. The ‘Riders mustered just three baserunners on three hits off of lefty starter Tyler Matzek in the first five innings. Teodoro Martinez walked, the first worked by the RoughRiders all night, to lead off the sixth in a scoreless game. Guilder Rodriguez then singled. Brett Nicholas flew out to bring up Alex Buchholz. In his second game back with the club, the third baseman launched a three-run shot to left field. The home run was his fourth this season for the RoughRiders, sixth on the year when you include his two hit for Triple-A Round Rock, and the homer made it 3-0 Frisco.
Ryan Rodebaugh allowed a solo home run to Dustin Garneau in the bottom of the seventh for the lone Tulsa tally.
Ramirez (5-1) earned the win for the ‘Riders. Matzek (1-5) took the loss in one of his better outings on the season. Roman Mendez fired two scoreless innings for his second save.
The RoughRiders play again Sunday at 7:05 pm against the Drillers. Kevin Pucetas (5-4, 5.01) returns to the rotation after appearing out of the bullpen in relief of Rangers rehabber Colby Lewis on Monday. Tulsa counters with Christian Bergman (3-2, 3.02 ERA). Fans can tune in to the play-by-play broadcast onwww.RidersBaseball.com beginning at 6:40.
The RoughRiders return to Dr Pepper Ballpark Tuesday at 7:05 pm, beginning their home stand with a series against the Springfield Cardinals. For information on tickets to see the RoughRiders in 2013, please call (972) 731-9200, email info@ridersbaseball.com or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.
