TL1 Frisco RoughRiders

Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - April 30, 2016

Published on April 30, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release


Riders: LHP Frank Lopez (2-0, 3.32 ERA)

Hooks: RHP Edison Frias (1-0, 2.57 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 and Ryan Rouillard. Today's Dr Pepper Pregame Show guest is Riders right-handed pitcher Cody Palmquist.

You may access the 2016 Riders Media Guide online here.

LAST TIME OUT:

The Riders and Hooks were locked in a back-and-forth affair, culminated by a dramatic five-run eighth inning that helped Frisco to an 8-7 win. The Hooks broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh on a CHASE McDONALD grand slam to center field, but the Riders countered back with the big eighth inning. CODY PALMQUIST worked two innings in his Double-A debut, and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to preserve the victory.

RIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS:

At 16-4, the RoughRiders have the best 20-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 (.351), doubles (9), extra-base hits (15), RBI (22), and slugging percentage (.688). In addition, Cordell has more extra-base hits (15) than singles (12). 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 15-game hit streak into today's game and has been on base in all 20 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 23 straight contests.

HERE COMES HAMILTON:

Rangers outfielder JOSH HAMILTON is scheduled to begin a Major League rehabilitation assignment with the RoughRiders today, as he recovers from left knee inflammation. This will be Hamilton's fifth time rehabbing with the RoughRiders.

YU READY FOR SUNDAY?:

Wednesday, the Rangers announced that right-handed pitcher YU DARVISH will begin a Major League rehabilitation assignment with the Riders. The three-time American League All-Star will make a start on Sunday when the RoughRiders host the Corpus Christi Hooks at 4:05 p.m. Darvish is scheduled to throw 2.0 innings or 30 pitches.

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 (+41), Frisco's last six games have been decided by a total of eight runs, including five one-run contests. The Riders are 5-2 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 six series, including a series victory at Corpus Christi last weekend.

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 nine first innings. The Riders have scored first-inning runs in all four game 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 2.49 through the first 20 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, 24-5, in the sixth frame through 20 games. The Riders struck for their biggest inning of the year with a six-run sixth 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 59-25 (.702), good for the best winning percentage among all minor-league systems. Class A-Advanced High Desert enters the day with the one of the best records in all of Minor League Baseball at 17-5, while Class-A Hickory is 15-7, and Triple-A Round Rock is 11-9. 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 EDISON FRIAS makes his second start of the season against Frisco tonight. Last Saturday in Corpus Christi, the 25-year-old picked up his first win of the year, allowing just two runs over six innings of work. Both runs came across in the first inning on a two-run home run off the bat of RYAN CORDELL, but Frias settled in and allowed just four hits over his final 5 2/3 innings of work....REPERTOIRE: Fastball (93-95), changeup, curveball.

Check out the Frisco RoughRiders Statistics

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