Frisco Overcomes Midland
{fshare id=3927}
MIDLAND, TEXAS – In their second ninth inning rally of the season, the Frisco RoughRiders came from behind to capture a 4-3 win over the Midland RockHounds at Citibank Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.
Tyler Tufts did yeoman’s work for the RoughRiders. The starter went five innings for the second straight outing in just his ninth career start, and on Sunday, he allowed just one run. David Freitas knocked a one-out single in the fourth inning and was brought home to score two batters later by Dusty Coleman who tripled to right field.
Frisco (36-26) didn’t manage much off of Midland starter Zach Neal, but they managed just enough to get Tufts off the hook. With one-out in the sixth inning, Jake Goebbert dropped a fly ball in right field off the bat of Hanser Alberto, allowing the Frisco shortstop to reach second. Two batters later, Odubel Herrera tied the game with a base knock to right to tie the game at 1-1.
Midland (29-33) tagged Arlett Mavare for two runs in the seventh inning, and Frisco trailed going to the ninth.
With Frank Gailey on to close things out, Herrera legged out an infield single with one out. Up next was Brett Nicholas, and the ‘Riders team-leader in homers blasted his 13th of the year to tie the game. But Frisco wasn’t done.
Midland went to Brett Hunter to face the pinch-hitter Joe Benson. In his first
game since May 31, Benson tripled to lead off the inning and put the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Ryan Strausborger intentionally walked to cover the corners. Strausborger stole second base to get out of the double-play opportunity, and Zach Zaneski bounced into a fielder’s choice to take the 4-3 lead.
Richard Bleier worked a perfect ninth to close out the game for the ‘Riders. Wilmer Font (1-1), who tossed a scoreless eighth, picked up the win in relief. Hunter (0-1) took the loss.
The RoughRiders pick up the series Monday night against the RockHounds in Midland at 6:30 p.m. at Citibank Ballpark. Neil Ramirez (6-2, 3.38 ERA) goes for Frisco in game three of the set opposing Midland’s Arnold Leon (3-3, 3.38 ERA). Fans can tune in to the play-by-play broadcast on www.RidersBaseball.com beginning at 6:10.
The RoughRiders return to Dr Pepper Ballpark Wednesday, June 12 at 7:05 pm, beginning their longest home stand of the season with a four-series against the Corpus Christi Hooks. For information on tickets to see the RoughRiders in 2013, please call (972) 731-9200, email info@ridersbaseball.com or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.
