RoughRiders Sweep Tulsa

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TULSA, OKLA. – The Frisco RoughRiders captured their fifth straight win on Monday afternoon over the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field by a 6-3 score. The win closed out a series sweep of Tulsa and completed a road trip in which Frisco went 5-1.

Joe Benson opened the scoring in the second, beginning his day with what he did to end his previous night by launching a solo home run. With one down in the inning, the center fielder homered to left off Tulsa starter Sean Gallagher to put Frisco ahead 1-0.

Defensive miscues by the RoughRiders allowed Tulsa (22-27) to take the lead in the first third of the ballgame off of ‘Riders hurler Nick McBride, making his Double-A appearance and first start of 2013. After the right-hander allowed two straight singles to begin the second, he got a groundout for the first out, and with runners at the corners, was just another groundball away from getting out of the inning. McBride got what he wanted off the bat Dustin Garneau, but Hanser Alberto couldn’t handle the potential inning-ending double play ball, and

instead, Kyle Parker came home to level the score. Another error, this time by the pitcher himself, in the third inning brought home another to give the Drillers the 2-1 advantage.

McBride allowed one more run in the fourth. Angelys Nina led off the frame with a walk, got to third on a single from Garneau and then came home on a crazy sacrifice fly double play to make it 3-1.

Frisco (29-21) battled back. Brett Nicholas led off the sixth inning with his 11th home run of the season to cut the lead to one run. The ‘Riders bullpen retired 15 of the 16 batters they faced in relief of McBride to keep the game close.

Cole White entered for the eighth as the third pitcher for the Drillers. He got two quick outs to begin his frame but then allowed five consecutive men to reach. Chih-Hsien Chiang tied the ballgame at 3-3 with the third of three straight singles for the RoughRiders. Tulsa intentionally walked Benson, and then Odubel Herrera brought home two runs on a bouncing ball single up the middle to put the ‘Riders ahead 5-3. One more scored on a wild pitch to give Frisco a 6-3 lead.

The combined forces of Arlett Mavare, Richard Bleier, and Ryan Rodebaugh tossed five scoreless innings to finish the afternoon out of the bullpen. They retired the final 13 batters faced, and Rodebaugh tossed the ninth for his second save.

Mavare (1-1) earned his first Double-A win, and White (1-2) took the loss.

The RoughRiders return home to Dr Pepper Ballpark Tuesday at 7:05 pm, beginning their home stand with a series against the Springfield Cardinals. Newly anointed Texas League Pitcher of the Week Carlos Pimentel (6-1, 2.25) faces off against lefty Tim Cooney (2-1, 2.00 ERA) in a rematch of the 1-0 Frisco win on Thursday. 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.