Frisco Takes Series Over NW Arkansas
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SPRINGDALE, AR – Finishing their road trip, the Frisco RoughRiders captured a series win with a 7-4 victory against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Monday night at Arvest Ballpark. The series win was the team’s first since taking three of four games in Midland against the RockHounds June 8-11.
Unlike the first two games of the series when Frisco (6-6, 45-37) went scoreless in the first three innings, the ‘Riders wasted no time against Naturals starter Aaron Brooks. Teodoro Martinez clubbed his ninth home run of the season to lead off the game and open the scoring. Frisco scored two more in the inning; on a Chih-Hsien Chiang single, a throwing error from Matt Fields allowed Brett Nicholas to come and extend the lead to 2-0. The next batter, Tomas Telis, doubled home Chiang to give Frisco a 3-0 edge.
Northwest Arkansas (7-5, 32-50) scored in the first as well but only tallied one run. With two outs, Brian Fletcher singled, and then Matt Fields doubled him home, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Both pitchers posted zeros in the second and third, and in the fourth inning, a Ryan Strausborger double in fourth inning brought home Telis to make it 4-1. The second hit of the night from Brett Nicholas posted another run for the ‘Riders in the fifth, giving Frisco and Tufts a 5-1 lead heading to the sixth inning.
For the first time in his career, Tyler Tufts returned for a sixth inning of work. Over the first five innings, he allowed just one run on three hits and a walk. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Fletcher collected a single on a ball that grazed Hanser Alberto. The ‘Riders shortstop left due to
apparent injury, and after a long injury delay, Matt Fields launched his Texas League best 21st home run, cutting the lead to 5-3.
The RoughRiders rallied right back with a pair of runs in the seventh. Jon Keck had taken over for Brooks in the sixth, and Alex Buchholz slammed a two-out double, scoring Guilder Rodriguez. Bringing on a new reliever, Noel Arguelles allowed back-to-back base hits to start his evening. The second of those base hits was Telis’ third hit of the night, an RBI single to make it 7-3 RoughRiders.
Jimmy Reyes and Justin Miller posted scoreless innings to bridge the game to the ninth for Randy Henry. Henry allowed a run on an RBI single from Roman Hernandez but kept the Naturals from rallying back, and Frisco won 7-4.
Tufts (2-1) earned his second win, while Brooks (3-2) took the loss in his fifth Texas League start.
The RoughRiders are off tomorrow and return home to Frisco to open a six-game home stand on Wednesday, July 3 at 7:05 p.m., beginning with a three-game set with the Arkansas Travelers. Nick McBride (1-3, 5.14 ERA) gets the start for the RoughRiders, and Matt Oye (5-5, 5.29 ERA) will get the ball for the Travelers. Fans can tune in to the play-by-play broadcast on www.RidersBaseball.com beginning at 6:40.
For information on tickets to see the RoughRiders in 2013, please call (972) 731-9200, email info@ridersbaseball.com or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.
