Frisco Drops 4th Straight
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CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The RoughRiders squandered an early lead to fall 5-2 against the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field on Thursday night. The loss was the RoughRiders’ fourth straight defeat.
For the first time in a week, Frisco (7-13, 46-44) drew first blood. In the second inning, Alex Buchholz walked with one out. He reached second base on a wild pitch from Ruben Alaniz, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on another wild pitch to give the ‘Riders a 1-0 lead.
Like the RoughRiders did, the Hooks (11-9, 53-37) scored their first run without a hit. Frisco spot-starter Arlett Mavare kept the Hooks off the scoreboard in the first two innings but walked the leadoff man, Drew Muren, in the third. He moved down to second base on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a fly out to left field. On a weak grounder off the bat of Rene Garcia, Muren was able to come home, beating the throw from the pitcher Mavare.
Hanser Alberto gave the RoughRiders a lead again in the fifth, tripling home Chih-Hsien Chiang to make it 2-1 Frisco. The lead, however, was short-lived. Mavare finished his
night with a scoreless fifth inning. The starter went five innings and allowed just one run on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
The first man out of the bullpen did not fair as well. Richard Bleier allowed four runs in two innings, including three runs in his first frame in the sixth. With two outs,
Michael Burgess brought home two with a double to give the Hooks their first lead, and the next batter Raoul Torrez plated an insurance run with an RBI single to make it 4-2 Corpus Christi.
Enrique Hernandez blasted a solo home run with two down in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 5-2, but it was unneeded. The RoughRiders had chances but could not convert. They stranded seven baserunners on the evening and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Bleier (1-4) was handed the loss. Alaniz (5-7) earned the win. Jorge De Leon recorded the final four outs to collect his fourth save of the year.
The RoughRiders continue their series with the Hooks on Friday at 7:05 p.m. from Whataburger Field. Carlos Pimentel (8-6, 4.26 ERA) gets the nod for the RoughRiders facing the Hooks’ Mike Foltynewicz (5-1, 2.79 ERA). Fans can tune in to the play-by-play broadcast on www.RidersBaseball.com beginning at 6:40.
The ‘Riders return home on Sunday, July 13, hosting the San Antonio Missions for the first of four games at Dr Pepper Ballpark. For information on tickets to see the RoughRiders in 2013, please call (972) 731-9200, email info@ridersbaseball.com or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.
