Riders Game Notes - 4:05 p.m. vs. Midland RockHounds - May 8, 2016
May 8, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
Riders: LHP Victor Payano (3-0, 3.18 ERA)
RockHounds: RHP Dylan Covey (2-1, 1.91 ERA)
Full game notes are available online through this link.
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.
You may access the 2016 Riders Media Guide online here.
LAST TIME OUT:
The RoughRiders dropped a back-and-forth affair in the series opener against Midland, 4-3...LEWIS BRINSON tied the game, 3-3, with a solo homer in the sixth, but a pair of Midland home runs proved to be the difference...SAM WOLFF struck out a career-high 10 hitters in his five innings of work...Frisco outhit Midland, 10-4, but stranded seven men on base in their first series-opening loss of the season.
NO MINOR FEAT:
Entering the day at 21-7 (.750), the Riders have the best winning percentage among all 120 full-season affiliates in Minor League Baseball.
RIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS:
The 21-7 record ties the 2016 RoughRiders with the 2008 squad for the best 28-game start in team history. The 2008 RoughRiders, finished with an 84-56 record and lost to Arkansas in the Texas League championship series.
GOING STREAKING:
RYAN CORDELL has been off to a great start in 2016, including a Texas League Player of the Week and Player of the Month honor. Although his 17-game hitting streak came to an end after going 0-for-3 Monday, he continued his season-long on-base streak to 27 games last night with his eigth multi-hit game of the season. Dating back to the final three games of 2015, he has reached base in 30 straight contests.
WEBER FITTING RIGHT IN:
Since joining the Riders from Extended Spring Training on April 25, GARRETT WEBER has been a key contributor for Frisco. He rides a 10-game hitting streak into tonight's contest, which includes five multi-hit games. This is Weber's first seasons as a Rangers farmhand after spending his first five seasons in the Diamondbacks organization.
CONDOR FLYING HIGH:
RONALD "CONDOR" GUZMAN is tearing it up as of late, having reached base safely in 15 straight games, the third-longest active streak in the Texas League. He has hits in 13 of those 15 games, and RBI in nine. In that span, he's hitting .375, with five doubles, two home runs, and 12 RBI.
STRIKEOUT FEVER:
After striking out 180 hitters in the first 23 games, Riders pitching has amassed 55 punchouts in the last five games. In addition, three starters have set career-highs in single-game strikeouts this week (VICTOR PAYANO, 13; SAM WOLFF, 10; CONNOR SADZECK, 9).
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 2.41 through the first 28 games and has wiggled out of numerous late-game jams. MATT BUSH has five saves, ADAM PARKS has three, and the team is 9-for-10 in save situations.
CUT THEM SOME SLACK:
Reliever RYNE SLACK is in the midst of an impressive stretch, not having allowed a hit in his last 10 2/3 innings of work. He still has yet to permit a run in 13 1/3 innings of relief work this season, and his .053 opposing average is the best in the Texas League.
KINER CAN CATCH:
RoughRiders utility man ISIAH KINER-FALEFA has found a new skillset, and it comes from behind the plate. The 21-year-old is catching for the first time in his career this season, having made five starts behind the plate this season. The new position has worked incredibly well for Kiner-Falefa, who has caught the last three baserunners who have run on his watch, including Midland's Matt Chapman Saturday night. He also has yet to have a passed ball.
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, 33-13, in the sixth frame through 28 games. The Riders struck for their biggest inning of the year with a six-run sixth on April 14 vs. Northwest Arkansas.
RANGER DANGER:
The RoughRiders aren't the only Rangers affiliate off to a hot start. Overall, the Rangers farm system is 77-38 (.670), which is the best winning percentage among all minor-league systems. Class A-Advanced High Desert enters the day at 20-10, while Class-A Hickory is 20-9, and Triple-A Round Rock is 16-12. All four affiliates currently lead their respective divisions. 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 Dylan Covey has been off to an impressive start for the RockHounds, posting a 1.91 ERA through his first five starts (best among Midland starting pitchers). He hast yet to give up more than two earned runs in a start and has turned in three straight quality starts for the RockHounds. Covey comes off his longest start of the year, turning in 7 2/3 innings against Corpus Christi on Tuesday, while allowing just one run. The righty was a fourth-round pick in 2013 out of the University of San Diego, and has started all but one of the 71 games he's pitched as a member of the Oakland organization. Covey squared off against a handful of current RoughRiders last May as a member of the Class A-Advanced Stockton Ports, taking a no-decision in five innings of work against the Rangers' Class A-Advanced affiliate, High Desert. REPERTOIRE: Fastball, slider, curveball, changeup.
Texas League Stories from May 8, 2016
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- Junis Fires Seven-Shutout Innings in Naturals 1-0 Win over Travelers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Even Series with Sunday Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Excel in All Phases in 5-0 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Game Notes - 4:05 p.m. vs. Midland RockHounds - May 8, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks Blank San Antonio - Corpus Christi Hooks
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