Frisco Continues Historic Start
Published on April 30, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Chase McDonald of the Corpus Christi Hooks
(Corpus Christi Hooks, Credit: Rich Crimi)
FRISCO - The Frisco RoughRiders scored five runs in the bottom of the 8th to defeat Corpus Christi by a final score of 8-7 in front of 7,577 fans at Dr. Pepper Ballpark on Friday night.
The Frisco RoughRiders (16-4) are off to their best 20-game start in franchise history and extended their winning streak to five with the win.
Cody Palmquist (1-0) won his first decision with the RoughRiders after pitching two innings, giving up three hits, walking one, and striking out one.
The Hooks (9-11) lost their fifth game in a row and eighth out of their last nine games.
Corpus Christi got off to a great start as Chase McDonald singled home Jack Mayfield in the 1st to open the scoring. Frisco answered with a two-run double from Ronald Guzman in the bottom half that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Lewis Brinson to give the Riders a 2-1 lead.
The Hooks got single runs in the 3rd and 4th inning to regain the lead. Another RBI for Chase McDonald on a sacrifice fly to center once again scored Mayfield and tied the game. They went ahead in the 4th when Alfredo Gonzalez grounded out to short, scoring Danry Vasquez.
The Riders answered a couple innings later in the bottom of the 6th. Alberto Triunfel drove home his third run of the season on a fielder's choice that allowed Zach Cone to score and tie the game again, this time at 3.
Chase McDonald would not go quietly into the night. Already with two RBI's, he stepped up in a big spot with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 7th. He took the first pitch he saw from David Perez and launched it over the center field fence to give the Hooks their second grand slam of the season and most importantly a 7-3 lead.
On a night where Francis Martes (1-2) had looked pretty solid in his first two innings of work, things quickly unraveled in the 8th. Back-to-back doubles by Alex Burg and Zach Cone plated one right away to cut the lead to three. After a walk to Garrett Weber and strikeout of Triunfel, Kiner-Falefa lined a triple to right center field that scored two to make it 7-6 Hooks. An RBI single by Chris Gimenez two pitches later would score Kiner-Falefa and tie the game.
Michael Freeman came on in relief of Martes looking to halt the Riders' charge in its tracks. Instead, Brinson reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on a throwing error by Mayfield. Ryan Cordell, who had been hitless and was in danger of losing his league-best 14-game hitting streak, delivered with a single that scored Brinson and gave the Riders the run they needed to hold on.
Despite the tough sequence of the events, Corpus Christi fought back to load the bases and put the pressure on Palmquist in the top of the 9th. He got the out Frisco needed when J.D. Davis struck out to end the inning and the game.
Lost in the shuffle was a fantastic start by Brian Holmes. The Hooks' southpaw pitched five strong innings, surrendering seven hits, two runs, walking one, and striking out four. His only mistake was giving up the two-run double to Guzman in the 1st.
The Hooks will play the second of four against the Riders on Saturday night with first pitch coming at 7:05. Michael Coffin and Kevin Piel will bring you all the action on NewsRadio 1360 KKTX. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Images from this story
 Chase McDonald of the Corpus Christi Hooks (Rich Crimi) |
Texas League Stories from April 30, 2016
- Mondesi's 9th-Inning Blast Sends Naturals to Victory - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - April 30, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- One Run Every Six-And-A-Half Minutes??? - Midland RockHounds
- Frisco Continues Historic Start - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Dramatic Five-Run Rally Sends Riders to Fifth-Straight Win - Frisco RoughRiders
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