TL1 Frisco RoughRiders

Riders Game Notes - 4:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - May 1, 2016

Published on May 1, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release


Riders: RHP Yu Darvish (---, -.-- ERA)

Hooks: RHP Keegan Yuhl (0-1, 3.63 ERA)

Today's game can be heard on the RoughRiders Radio Network at Ridersbaseball.com/media, online and on mobile devices via TuneIn Radio, or on the MiLB First Pitch App. The Dr Pepper Pregame Show with Steve Goldberg begins at 3:30 p.m. prior to the first pitch at 4:05 p.m. with game coverage from Nathan Barnett and Ryan Rouillard. Today's Dr Pepper Pregame Show guest is Riders manager Joe Mikulik.

LAST TIME OUT:

For the second straight night, the Riders staged a dramatic comeback late in the game, putting up three runs in the ninth to walk off on the Hooks, 4-3. ZACH CONE delivered the walk-off single, giving Frisco its second walk-off win of the homestand. CHASE McDONALD homered for the second time in as many games to get the Hooks a 2-1 lead in the sixth, and Corpus Christi added an unearned run in the 9th, canceling out an unearned run for the Riders in the second inning.

RIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS:

At 17-4, the RoughRiders have the best 21-game start in team history, besting the 2008 squad. The 2008 RoughRiders finished with an 84-56 record and lost to Arkansas in the Texas League championship series.

'DELL-IGHTFUL START:

RYAN CORDELL has been on a roll early in the season, leading the Texas League in average doubles (9), runs (20), and slugging percentage (.688), while he ranks second in many other categories. In addition, Cordell has more extra-base hits (15) than singles (14). He's already tied or surpassed many of his stats with Frisco from last year, when he hit .217 with five doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI in 56 games.

GOING STREAKING:

Cordell has not only been off to a great start, but he's been producing consistently for Frisco early in 2016. He rides a 16-game hit streak into today's game and has been on base in all 21 contests this year, both of which are the Texas League's longest streaks. Dating back to the final three games of 2015, he has reached base in 24 straight contests.

HERE COMES HAMILTON:

Rangers outfielder JOSH HAMILTON began his rehabilitation assignment with the RoughRiders Saturday, going 0-for-2 (flyout, reach on error) in four innings as the starting left fielder.

YU READY FOR DARVISH?:

Right-handed pitcher YU DARVISH is scheduled to begin a Major League rehabilitation assignment with the Riders today. The three-time American League All-Star is slateed to throw two innings or 30 pitches.

GIMENEZ JIVING IN REHAB STINT:

While Hamilton and Darvish are just arriving, catcher CHRIS GIMENEZ has been rehabbing with Frisco since Monday, and has performed very well. He has recorded hits in all five games, and has driven in a run in four. Gimenez has split his time between catcher and designated hitter so far.

BURG BUSTING BACK ON TO THE SCENE:

Since returning from a short stay with Triple-A Round Rock, ALEX BURG has been on a tear for Frisco. In his first six games back, Burg is hitting .476 (10-for-21), with three home runs and seven RBI. Burg has hits in all six games since his return.

"ONE"-DERFUL IN CLOSE GAMES:

Despite leading the Texas League in run differential (+42), Frisco's last seven games have been decided by a total of nine runs, including six one-run contests (5-1). The Riders are 6-2 in one-run games this year.

FIRST FRAME FUN:

After scoring just one first-inning run in the first 11 games, the Riders have outscored opponents, 16-2, in the last ten first innings. The Riders have scored first-inning runs in four of five games against the Hooks this year, outscoring them, 10-2.

THE 'PEN IS MIGHTIER:

Part of the key for the Riders historic start to the season has been the strong bullpen, protecting leads late in games. The bullpen holds an ERA of just 2.39 through the first 21 games, and has wiggled out of numerous late-game jams. MATT BUSH and ADAM PARKS each have three saves so far for Frisco, and the team is 7-for-7 in save chances.

CRANKING UP CROOKED NUMBERS:

Early in the season, the RoughRiders have shown an ability to not only score in bunches but keep opponents from doing the same. The RoughRiders have tallied 10 innings of four or more runs (five four-run innings, four five-run frames and a six-spot). Meanwhile, the Riders have only allowed four innings of more than two runs.

SEPARATION IN THE SIXTH:

The RoughRiders have found immense success, both at the plate and on the mound, in the sixth inning this season. Frisco has outscored opponents, 24-7, in the sixth frame through 21 games. The Riders struck for their biggest inning of the year with a six-run sixth April 14 vs Northwest Arkansas.

STARTING SERIES STRONG:

With Friday night's win, the RoughRiders improved to 7-0 in series openers this season. The Riders have won five of their first six series, including a series victory at Corpus Christi last weekend.

RANGER DANGER:

The RoughRiders aren't the only Rangers affiliate off to a hot start. Overall, the Rangers farm system is 61-27 (.693), good for the best winning percentage among all minor-league systems. Class A-Advanced High Desert enters the day at 17-6, while Class-A Hickory is 15-8, and Triple-A Round Rock is 12-9. Round Rock was recently ranked the fifth-best Minor League team (any level) by MLB.com's Jim Callis.

TOP OF THE CLASS:

The RoughRiders enter the season with six players ranked in either Baseball America or MLBPipeline.com's Rangers Top 30 Prospects. LEWIS BRINSON, the No. 2 prospect in Rangers' farm system according to MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America, returns to Frisco. He appeared in 28 games for the Riders last season, hitting .291 with six home runs and 23 RBI before being promoted to Round Rock. Brinson is joined by five other players named in the lists- RYAN CORDELL (No. 15 in MLB, No. 11 in BA), RONALD GUZMAN (23, 29), JOSE LECLERC (25, 21), SAM WOLFF (26, NR), and CONNOR SADZECK (27, 26).

OPPOSING STARTER:

Right-hander KEEGAH YUHL makes his first appearance against the Riders this season, in his third overall start. He has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of four outings thus far, and has kept opponents to a .226 average. REPERTOIRE: Fastball, changeup, slider.

Check out the Frisco RoughRiders Statistics

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