'Riders Tie Series Thanks to Solid Pitching
July 12, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
FRISCO, TEXAS - The Frisco RoughRiders bounced back from an ugly loss and took care of the Corpus Christi Hooks 6-2 Saturday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
With the win, the 'Riders (11-10, 51-39) avoided falling below .500 in the second half and losing their first series to the Hooks on the year. Frisco received a jolt of offense from major league rehabbers Jim Aducci and Geovany Soto, as they each earned two hits, an RBI and a run.
The Hooks (12-10, 46-46) are back down to .500 for the season because they just couldn't make contact against the 'Riders pitchers. The Astros minor league affiliate only notched five hits after pounding the 'Riders for 16 in the previous match.
For the first time in the past three games, the 'Riders went into the second inning with the momentum and the lead. Aducci got things going with an RBI single that brought Pat Cantwell home from second. A throwing error by Hooks shortstop Carlos Perdomo allowed Aducci to make his way home and put the 'Riders in front after one frame.
It didn't take long for the Hooks to respond, though, as they got on the board in the top of the second. Frisco starter Jerad Eickhoff (7-6) was flying through his first five batter, only using 16 pitches. However, the righty faced some trouble getting the final out of the inning, needing 19 tosses to get off the mound. Telvin Nash singled to left field, Perdomo took four balls and Rene Garcia drove an RBI single down the left-field line to make the score 2-1.
The 'Riders started to rack up the base hits in the fourth frame and take control of the match. After back-to-back RBI doubles from Soto and Chris Grayson, 21-year-old Dominican Hanser Alberto smacked an RBI single to left field and extended the lead to 5-1.
Hooks starter Brady Rodgers (4-10) made it through one more inning in the fifth. The right-hander gave up five run (four earned) on eight hits while striking out four and walking one. The Richmond, Texas native now leads the Texas League in losses.
Eickhoff picked up his pace after the rough end to the second. He used a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth to retire his 11th, 12th and 13th straight batters. He again faced trouble, though, finishing off the final batter in the seventh. After a groundout and strikeout, Eickhoff left too much of the ball over the plate and Nash hit a rocket out of the park for his team-leading 12th homer of the season, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Eickhoff's night would come to a close after the seventh as he only allowed two runs on three hits. The righty took down seven batters by means of a strikeout and only walked one.
In the bottom of the eighth, Frisco added one more run for good measure as Hanser Alberto scored on a fielder's choice.
Reliever Keone Kela entered the game in the eighth for the final out and forced Delino DeShields to line out to Alberto. In the ninth, after Kela struck out Meyer and Andrew Aplin singled to center field, the 'Riders finished the game in dramatic fashion with a 5-4-3 double play for the victory.
The RoughRiders will travel to San Antonio and face the Missions Suinday at 6:05 p.m. at Wolff Stadium. Frisco righty Alex Gonzalez (2-3, 3.55) will face righty Josh Geer (5-7, 3.44 ERA). 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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