TL1 Frisco RoughRiders

Frisco RoughRiders Game Notes

Published on June 9, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release


Bad reflection: In a game that mirrored the series opener, Midland methodically built a big lead and cruised to another five-run victory over Frisco yesterday in a 7-2 decision at Dr Pepper Ballpark. 'Riders nemisis Anthony Aliotti drove in three of the RockHounds' runs, starting with a solo homer off Jerad Eickhoff in the second inning. He made it 2-0 on an RBI double two innings later, but Trever Adams got that run back with a run-scoring two-bagger in the bottom of the frame. Midland as- serted itself with two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh off reliever Jimmy Reyes to build a comfortable margin and knock of the RoughRiders for the second straight day. Frisco's lead in the TL South was whittled to 3.5 games over the 'Hounds and the team's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is still six with eight games remaining in the first half.

Today's Pitching Matchup: Luke Jackson looks to help the RoughRiders win their first game of the series as he starts tonight's contest against Midland hurler Shawn Haviland. Jackson tossed six scoreless innings in his last outing, a win over San Antonio on Wednesday. In one relief outing against the RockHounds he allowed three runs in four innings to get a save, but he followed that up with five shutout frames in a start out in West Texas. In two starts against Frisco, Haviland has been pounded for 11 runs on 15 hits in seven innings. He is coming off a seven inning outing in which he did not give up a run against Corpus Christi. Haviland missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery; he originally was diagnosed with a strained flexor tendon while pitching in the Arizona Fall League in 2012, but the injury eventually required surgery. The righty pitched for the RockHounds in 2011 (6-12, 7.08 ERA in 27 GS)and 2012 (6-8, 4.80 ERA in 31 G, 21 GS).

Haviland was drafted by Oakland in the 33rd round in 2008. The Farmington, Conn. native and Boston resident was the 2010 Stockton Ports "Pitcher of the Year," and was named a post-season All-Star in the California League. Haviland was a mid-season All-Star for Kane County in the Midwest League in 2009. A graduate of Harvard University with a degree in government studies, Haviland comes from a baseball family. His father, Tim, was an outfielder at UConn, his grandfather, Clayton, was a four-year player for Cornell and his younger brother, Jordan played for the Crimson. Shawn Haviland was the Ivy League Pitcher of the Year while in Cambridge and is attempting to become the 31st player from Harvard to make the majors (Cleveland's Frank Hermann was the most recent). Raised a Yankees fan, Haviland throws a fastball, curveball, cutter, changeup and splitter.

Alec symbol: 'Riders starter Alec Asher was in complete command on Friday night en route to picking up his third straight victory. The big righty nearly took a perfect game into the sixth inning, as he retired the first 14 San Antonio batters. He ended up tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing two hits and no walks with four strikeouts. Since posting a 5.61 ERA in April, Asher is 5-1 with a 1.97 ERA. He now ranks second in the Texas League in wins (6), tied for fourth in strikeouts (55), first in innings pitched (71.1), fifth in WHIP (1.07), fifth in average against (.221), fifth in walk rate (2.27/9 IP) and fourth in baserunners/9 IP (9.59).

Course change: It's been quite the departure for Frisco's offense from where it was early in the season. From the start of the season until May 2, the RoughRiders hit .226 - the eighth-lowest average among all full-season MiLB teams - and aver- aged 4.07 runs scored. Since May 3, they are hitting .304 - the third-highest in the minors - and are averaging 5.06 runs. One-run wonders: The RoughRiders won another one-run game on Thursday in the team's 5-4 victory over San Antonio. Frisco is a Texas League-best 14-4 (.778) in games decided by one run this season. That mark is the second-best among all full-season minor league teams, trailing just the Reading Fightin' Phils (18-4, .818). Only Reading, Sacramento (15), Potomac (15) and West Michigan (15) have more wins in one-run games than the 'Riders.

Ru Crew: Over the last 15 games Ryan Rua is batting .407 (22 for 54) with four doubles, three homers, 11 runs batted in and eight runs scored. He is currently on an eight-game hitting streak (.400), his second-longest of the season. Rua ranks fourth in the Texas League in batting average (.318), tied for fourth in homers (10), second in hits (67), third in on-base percentage (.395), third in slugging percentage (.526), second in OPS (.921), tied for fourth in extra-base hits (23), tied for third in total bases (111) and fifth in homers-per-at bats ratio (1/21.10).

Revenge is a dish best served with 96 mph fastballs: RoughRiders starter Luke Jackson has lost just twice this season and both times the culprit was San Antonio. The righty got his payback on Wednesday in the form of six scoreless innings in a win over the Missions. In two home starts against the Padres affiliate, Jackson is 2-0 and has not allowed a run in 13 innings; in his two starts at Wolff Stadium, he is 0-2 and has allowed six runs in 11.2 innings. The Floridian is fourth in the TL in ERA (2.55), first in wins (7), second in strikeouts (65), sixth in innings pitched (67.0), third in WHIP (0.96), third in batting average against (.191), second in strikeout rate (8.71/9 IP) and fourth in fewest baserunners per nine innings (9.29). If you take out one rough outing in his second start of the season (7 ER in 3.1 IP at Northwest Arkansas), Jackson's ERA would be 1.70 (12 ER/63.2 IP).

Make love, not Edwar: Despite taking the loss on Saturday, Edwar Cabrera continued his good run on the mound against the RockHounds. Cabrera nearly had another quality start, permitting three runs on nine hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. The Dominican has pitched into the seventh inning in three of his last five starts and has lowered his season ERA from 3.71 to 3.26 during this period. Over his last five starts, Cabrera has pitched 31.1 innings and allowed 34 hits, ten earned runs, and six walks with 27 strikeouts, posting a 2.87 ERA.

Start me up: The RoughRiders' recent run of success can be partially credited to a good run from their starting pitchers. In the last 17 games Frisco's starters are 8-5 with a 2.38 ERA (25 ER/94.2 IP), 92 hits allowed, 18 walks, 73 strikeouts, a 1.16 WHIP and a .248 batting average against (92 for 371).

Playing not to lose: Frisco's all-time record is 855-733 (.538) following a 70-70 2013 campaign. It was the eighth straight season that the RoughRiders finished with a non-losing record. The last time Frisco finished below .500 was the only time in team history, back in 2005 when it finished 58-82. The streak of non-losing seasons is by far the longest in the Texas League; every other team in the circuit has had at least one losing season in the last three years. The streak is the longest in Double-A and the third-longest among all 120 full-season minor league clubs, exceeded only by the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats (11 straight non-losing seasons) and the Advanced-A San Jose Giants (ten). Including teams that play in short- season leagues, Frisco's streak is the sixth longest; the Elizabethton Twins (25), Brooklyn Cyclones (13) and AZL Giants (13) have the longest such streaks in stateside Minor League Baseball.

Check out the Frisco RoughRiders Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from June 9, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central