Five-Run Seventh Pushes Riders over Missions
May 29, 2022 - Texas League (TL)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
FRISCO, Texas - Trailing 6-3 into the seventh inning, the Frisco RoughRiders used a five-run rally with two outs to defeat the San Antonio Missions, 10-6. Catcher Matt Whatley tallied two of four Riders home runs in Saturday's win, as Frisco plated seven of their ten runs in the final three innings.
Aside from Whatley's second career multi-HR night, Kellen Strahm led the RoughRiders (24-20) with a season-most three hits. Blaine Crim posted his 15th multi-hit game of the season in a 2-for-4 effort, featuring a two-run double in the seventh inning to give Frisco the late lead.
Frisco RHP Zak Kent struck out five in his five-inning start, giving up six runs on ten hits to the Missions. Jose Leclerc (1-0), continuing his rehab assignment in Frisco, struck out a batter in 1.1 scoreless innings. The relief effort of Leclerc, Seth Nordlin and Tai Tiedemann helped hold San Antonio scoreless after the fifth inning.
Frisco began Saturday's scoring in the bottom of the second on a two-out rally. With the bases empty, Trey Hair singled to allow Whatley to record his first home run of the season and gave Frisco a 2-0 lead after two innings.
The Missions (23-21) responded with two runs on three hits in the top of the third to tie Saturday's game, 2-2. In the bottom of the third, J.P. Martinez slugged his seventh home run to re-give Frisco the lead, 3-2.
San Antonio once more answered, this time with two home runs to score two runs in the top of the fourth to make it 5-3. Yorman Rodriguez began the inning with a solo shot, and Esteury Ruiz hit a two-run homer, his team-best seventh of the season. Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth, facing Frisco with a 6-3 deficit.
The comeback started with two outs in the sixth inning on Missions pitcher Tom Cosgrove (4-1) behind a Sandro Fabian solo home run to cut the deficit to 6-5, followed up by a Strahm single. The Riders loaded the bases after Jonny Ornelas drew a two-out walk and Martinez was plunked by the final pitch from Cosgrove, who was relieved by Major-League rehabber Dinelson Lamet. After a wild pitch that plated Strahm and tied the game, Crim roped a double off the wall to score Ornelas and Martinez and gave the Riders an 8-6 lead.
Ezequiel Duran followed the act with another double to plate Crim, giving Frisco a 9-6 advantage. Duran's double increased his total to 19, tied for the most in all of baseball. Whatley ended the night with his second home run of the night, ending the night's scoring at 10-6. The Riders drew a Saturday crowd of 7,031, their third-largest attendance of the season.
The series closes on Kids Sunday Funday at Riders Field, with kids running the bases for free postgame. Frisco RHP Justin Slaten (0-2, 4.57 ERA) takes the mound on Sunday for the Riders, while San Antonio's starter is yet to be determined.
For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
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