Riders Game Notes - 7:05 at Corpus Christi Hooks - April 21, 2016
April 21, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
Riders: RHP Connor Sadzeck (2-0, 0.82 ERA)
Hooks: RHP Kyle Smith (0-1, 0.00 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 6:30 p.m. prior to the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. with game coverage from Nathan Barnett and Ryan Rouillard. Today's Dr Pepper Pregame Show guest is Riders reliever Reed Garrett.
LAST TIME OUT:
In a back-and-forth affair, the RoughRiders dropped a rubber game to the Arkansas Travelers by an 8-7 score...Frisco took a big lead early, erasing a 1-0 deficit and turning it into a 4-1 lead in the first inning behind RBI doubles from LEWIS BRINSON and RYAN CORDELL and a two-run homer courtesy of ZACH CONE...Arkansas, however, would plate the next seven runs, taking a 7-4 lead with a four-run fifth...FRANK LOPEZ lasted a season-low four-plus innings and allowed a season-high six runs and five hits....But the Riders rallied back to tie it with runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, including a second homer from Cone...The go-ahead run came in against MATT BUSH in the eighth, and the Riders failed to respond.
RIDING HIGH:
The RoughRiders won nine of their first 10 games this season, marking the best 10-game start in team history. At 9-3, the RoughRiders are tied with the 2008 squad for the best start in the 14-year history of the franchise. The 2008 RoughRiders finished with an 84-56 record and lost to Arkansas in the Texas League championship series.
EXTRA! EXTRA!:
RYAN CORDELL has been on a roll early in the season, leading the Texas League in doubles (7) and extra-base hits (9). In fact, he has more extra-base hits (9) than singles (7). His .644 slugging percentage ranks sixth in the Texas League.
DOUBLE TROUBLE:
Through the first two weeks of the season, the Riders lead the Texas League with 25 doubles. 10 of Frisco's 13 hitters already have a double this year, and five of them have multiple two-baggers.
CONE CRUSHES COMMENCING:
After starting the season 4-for-26, ZACH CONE has 4 hits in his last 6 at-bats, including 3 extra-base hits and 5 RBI. Cone went 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI in Tuesday's loss to Arkansas.
SCORING SOONER:
Early on, the RoughRiders had trouble scoring early in games. 25 of the 34 runs they scored over their first seven games came in the sixth inning or later. But in their last five games, 20 of their 24 runs have come within the first five innings.
SEPARATION IN THE SIXTH:
The Riders have been strong late in games this season, especially in the sixth inning. Frisco has scored at least one run in the sixth in seven of the first 12 games and is outscoring opponents, 17-0, in the frame.
THE 'PEN IS MIGHTIER:
While almost every facet of the RoughRiders team has been clicking early on, the bullpen has been especially strong for the Riders. Over the past eight games, the 'pen has allowed just five runs in the last 37 1/3 innings (1.21 ERA). Over that stretch, relievers have allowed just 20 hits and 16 walks (0.96 WHIP), while striking out 28.
ONCE ISN'T ENOUGH:
Early on, multi-hit games have been a trend throughout the Riders lineup. Nine different players have registered a multi-hit game in 2016, led by four from LEWIS BRINSON, RONALD GUZMAN, and JOE JACKSON.
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 three four-run innings, two five-run frames and a six-spot (all against Northwest Arkansas). Meanwhile, the Riders have only allowed one run of more than two innings (4, 4/19/16 vs Arkansas).
DOUBLE THE BROOMS:
Saturday, the RoughRiders broke out the brooms against Northwest Arkansas for the second time this year. It marked the first time the Riders have swept the same team twice in the same half since the second half of 2009, when the RoughRiders swept Arkansas in both series.
RANGER DANGER:
The RoughRiders aren't the only Rangers affiliate off to a hot start. Overall, the Rangers farm system is 36-16 (.692), good for the best winning percentage among all minor-league systems. Class-A Hickory and Class A-Advanced High Desert each enter today at 10-4, and Triple-A Round Rock is 7-5. 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 in August. 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:
Selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Santaluces High School in Lantana, Fla., Kyle Smith Went 9-1 with a 0.40 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 69 innings as a senior...He bypassed an opportunity to play at the University of Florida by signing with the Royals...Houston acquired the right-hander in the Justin Maxwell trade in 2013... Selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Santaluces High School in Lantana, Fla. ... Went 9-1 with a 0.40 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 69 innings as a senior. ... Bypassed an opportunity to play at the University of Florida by signing with the Royals...Repertoire: fastball (88-91, T93)...He also uses a curveball and changeup.
Texas League Stories from April 21, 2016
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- Five Run Third Sends Naturals to Victory over Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Second Drillers Homestand on Deck - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 at Corpus Christi Hooks - April 21, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
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