McGuiness Ends 10 Inning Battle for Riders
Published on July 9, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Frisco, Texas - Frisco first baseman Chris McGuiness sent the RoughRiders to a 5-4 victory, their sixth straight, with a bottom of the 10th inning home run (18). With two outs, McGuiness sent Dakota Robinson's 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for the first walk-off homer against the Travs this season. The Travs outhit the Riders 14-13 and were led with three base hits by both Renny Osuna and Ryan Mount. The loss, the Travs' third in four games on the road, was the 23rd by one loss and the fourth game in a row decided by one run. Frisco stole seven bases in the game including three from centerfielder En gel Beltre.
The Travs drop to 6-10 in the second half (33-53 overall) while the RoughRiders' second half record improves to 8-8 (49-37)
Osuna helped the Travs get their offense started quickly against Frisco's All-Star Barret Loux, the Minor Leagues leader with 12 wins. Osuna singled to start the game and stole second base before scoring on Mount's first base hit, a hard single to center. When Roberto Lopez hit a line drive that McGuiness deflected to second baseman Ryan Strausborger who still had time to force Lopez, Mount advanced to second base later scoring on a single by Brian Hernandez.
The lead increased to 3-0 in the second inning when Tyson Auer hit a triple off the top of the left field wall and scored on Osuna's single through the right side.
Loux buckled down though and retired the next nine Travs batters eventually finishing six innings allowing just the three runs on seven base hits.
Mike Piazza never had it easy over his 5.1 innings on Sunday allowing nine hits and three walks, but no runs until the fourth inning. He walked Jared Hoying to begin the frame then allowed Zach Zaneski's second double putting runners at second and third. Val Majewski plated Hoying with a groundout, but Piazza got groundout from Leury Garcia and Jared Prince to hold a 3-1 lead.
That lead evaporated in the fifth inning when Alex Buchholz drove in two runs with a double past third base scoring Engel Beltre and Strausborger.
Both clubs managed to score in the seventh inning. The Travs scored off left-handed reliever on Osuna's third base hit, a single, knocking in Auer from second base after a one-out double.
Travs reliever Caleb Graham allowed his first run in 20 innings when Garcia snuck a double inside the third base line to score Hoying, who had singled and stole second base.
Both bullpens held in the eighth and ninth innings sending the game to the decisive tenth. Carlos Pimintel (7-2) struck out Casey Haerther and Hernandez to open the inning, but Carlos Ramirez reached base for the first time in five chances with a single. Then Jimmy Swift lined a base hit to the right-field fence that sent Ramirez scampering around third base. Jared Prince recovered the ball and found Strausborger in short right field. His throw gave Zaneski a moment to brace for a collision and he held onto the ball tagging Ramirez for the third out.
Robinson also retired the first two 'Riders hitters before McGuiness ended the game with his shot to left field.
Time of game was 3:26 and the paid attendance was 6,812.
The middle of this three-game set will be played on Monday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Johnny Hellweg (3-8, 3.78) takes the hill against Justin Grimm (8-3, 1.87) at 7:00 p.m.
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