RoughRiders Swept by Travs in Doubleheader
April 7, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
FRISCO, TEXAS (APRIL 7, 2014) - The Arkansas Travelers made their way into Frisco and swept both games of Monday's doubleheader by scores of 8-1 and 3-1. Rougned Odor hit his first home run of the season in the first game and Frisco pounded out seven hits in the second game, but couldn't cash in when it mattered.
In game one, the Travelers struck first in the top of the second inning after a leadoff single by Zach Borenstein and three walks by 'Riders starter Jerad Eickhoff. Borenstein singled on a 3-2 pitch and Eickhoff walked his next two hitters. The RoughRiders hurler battled back by getting Andrew Heid to fly out to center and Eric Stamets to strike out swinging, but walked number nine hitter Shawn O'Malley to force in a run and give Arkansas a 1-0 lead.
The RoughRiders went 1-2 to begin the bottom half of the third, but Rougned Odor drove a Kramer Sneed 2-2 pitch to the grass berm in right field to tie the contest 1-1. Jake Smolinski dropped a base hit into shallow left center on the next pitch and Jordan Brown singled up the middle to reel off three consecutive hits, but Sneed recovered, retiring Trever Adams on a long fly ball to the warning track in left center to end the inning.
The tie was broken in the fifth inning after lefty Jimmy Reyes entered the game for Frisco (1-4). Hudson used a base hit and his speed to advance into scoring position. Borenstein plated him on a base hit to right and would later score himself on a successful double steal attempt to make it 3-1 Travelers. Following a Jett Bandy walk and a Heid single, Smolinski made a fantastic defensive play to throw out Michael Snyder at home plate for the third out of the frame.
The RoughRiders weren't able to get anything going offensively in the final four innings of regulation, and Arkansas put away the game for good with a five-run seventh inning on four base hits. Sneed (1-0) was credited with the win for his six innings of work, in which he gave up three hits and one home run, and Reyes (0-1) took the loss after giving up three hits and two earned runs.
The nightcap featured Kyle Lotzkar making his RoughRiders debut against right-hander Yeiper Castillo.
The 'Riders wanted to get things started quickly following the short turnaround in between games, and they did so in the first inning. Odor singled, Brown and Smolinski walked, and Frisco plated the first run of the game on a wild pitch by Castillo.
The lead wouldn't last as long as the 'Riders would have hoped when Anderson De La Rosa and Heid hit back to back singles to start the second frame. After a wild pitch and stolen base advanced the runners, Lotzkar battled back to get back-to-back strike outs; but Andy Workman hit an infield single to second base to make it 2-1 Arkansas. The Travelers extended the lead to 3-1 in the fourth on another Workman single, scoring Heid. Workman drove in all three Arkansas (4-1) runs in the game.
The RoughRiders put up a fight in the seventh and final inning of regulation when Chris Grayson dropped a single into shallow left and Guilder Rodriguez legged out an infield single, but righty Michael Morin got Odor to ground into a fielders choice to end the ball game and earn his second save.
Lotzkar (0-1) suffered the defeat while Castillo (1-0) picked up the win.
Frisco and Arkansas will wrap up the home stand on Tuesday morning at 11:05. Matt Harrison will make his second rehab start of the spring following his rained-out outing last week, and will face off against right-hander Mark Sappington (0-0, 18.00) For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail Info@RidersBaseball.com or visit www.Ridersbaseball.com.
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