Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. at San Antonio Missions - May 3, 2016
Published on May 3, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
Riders: LHP Victor Payano (2-0, 4.15 ERA)
Missions: RHP Fabio Castillo (2-3, 4.88 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 6:30 p.m. prior to the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. with game coverage from Nathan Barnett.
You may access the 2016 Riders Media Guide online here.
LAST TIME OUT:
The RoughRiders suffered their largest defeat of the season, falling 8-2 to the Corpus Christi Hooks on Monday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark...The Hooks scored four runs in the first, including two on a single from Chase McDonald, who drove in 11 runs in the series...The Riders were shutout until LUIS MENDEZ homered in the eighth inning, but Frisco was down 7-1 at that point...Both teams traded runs in the ninth inning...SAM WOLFF lasted a season-low four innings and walked a season-high five batters.
RIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS:
At 17-6, the RoughRiders have the best 23-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, currently ranking second in the Texas League in doubles (9), RBI (23), and slugging percentage (.678), In addition, Cordell has more extra-base hits (16) 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. Cordell was rewarded with Texas League Player of the Month honors yesterday, after winning Player of the Week last Monday. The 24-year-old hit .363 in April with five home runs (two grand slams) and 22 RBI.
GOING STREAKING:
Cordell has not only been off to a great start, but he's been producing consistently for Frisco early in 2016. Although his 17-game hitting streak came to an end after going 0-for-3 yesterday, he drew a walk to increase his league-high on-base streak to 23 games. Dating back to the final three games of 2015, he has reached base in 26 straight contests.
YU BETTER BELIEVE IT:
Right-handed pitcher YU DARVISH threw two scoreless innings for the RoughRiders Sunday afternoon, allowing just one walk. It was the right-hander's first rehabilitation start, as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery last year.
GIMENEZ JIVING IN REHAB STINT:
In a weekend highlighted by Darvish and JOSH HAMILTON, catcher CHRIS GIMENEZ has been rehabbing with Frisco since Monday, and has performed very well. He has reached base in six of the seven 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 seven games back, Burg is hitting .440 (11-for-25), with three home runs and seven RBI. Burg has hits in all seven games since his return.
"ONE"-DERFUL IN CLOSE GAMES:
Despite leading the Texas League in run differential (+35), Frisco's last nine games have been decided by a total of 16 runs, including seven one-run contests (5-2). The Riders are 6-3 in one-run games this year.
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 seven series, including a series sweep against San Antonio at home last week.
FIRST FRAME FUN:
After scoring just one first-inning run in the first 11 games, the Riders have outscored opponents, 18-6, in the last 11 first innings. Frisco scored runs in the first inning of the first two games against San Antonio last week.
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 2.68 through the first 23 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 five 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, 25-9, in the sixth frame through 23 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 66-30 (.688), which is the best winning percentage among all minor-league systems. Class A-Advanced High Desert enters the day at 19-6, while Class-A Hickory is 17-8, and Triple-A Round Rock is 13-10. 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:
Former RoughRider Fabio Castillo gets the start for the Missions today...The right-handed hurler is off to a good start, allowing three or fewer runs in his first four starts before Frisco hit him hard last time out...the 27-year-old spent seven seasons in the Rangers organization and three years with Frisco (2010-2012)...This is his first year with the Padres after spending time in the Giants, Reds, and Orioles systems and pitched last year in the Mexican League...REPERTOIRE: fastball (93-98), 86-88 mph slider, that replaced his curve with quick, lateral action a lot like a cutter. He also has a 78-80 mph changeup.
Texas League Stories from May 3, 2016
- Drillers Fall 2-1 to Travs - Tulsa Drillers
- Weller, DeLoach & Wood Two-Hit Tulsa - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Score Late to End Naturals Winning Streak - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Payano Hurls Gem as Riders Shut out Missions - Frisco RoughRiders
- Payano Too Much as Frisco Edges San Antonio in Opener - San Antonio Missions
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. at San Antonio Missions - May 3, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- World Series Trophy to be at Arvest Ballpark on Friday, May 6 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks Home for 8 May 7-15 - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Aubrie Sellers Opening for Clint Black - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Missions Fall 11-10 to Hounds - San Antonio Missions
- Hooks Ride off with Split - Corpus Christi Hooks
- (Danny) Oh, What a Catch - Midland RockHounds
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