Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - May 2, 2016
Published on May 2, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
Riders: RHP Sam Wolff (4-0, 2.57 ERA)
Hooks: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1, 0.52 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 infielder Garrett Weber.
You may access the 2016 Riders Media Guide online here.
LAST TIME OUT:
Rangers all-star pitcher YU DARVISH made the start for Frisco in front of the fourth-largest crowd in Dr Pepper Ballpark history. Darvish pitched well in his two innings, but the Riders still fell to the Hooks by a score of 4-3. LEWIS BRINSON and RYAN CORDELL clubbed back-to-back home runs in the first inning for the Riders, who saw their six-game winning streak snapped.
RIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS:
At 17-5, the RoughRiders have the best 22-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 average (.357), doubles (9), home runs (6), RBI (23), and slugging percentage (.702), 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 today, after winning Player of the Week last Monday. The 24-year-old hit .363 in April with five home runs 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. He rides a 17-game hit streak into today's game and has been on base in all 22 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 25 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 all six 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 (+41), Frisco's last eight games have been decided by a total of 10 runs, including seven one-run contests (5-2). The Riders are 6-3 in one-run games this year.
SEEKING THE SERIES:
With a win tonight, the Riders will win their sixth series out of seven total. It would also mark a second series win against Corpus Christi in as many tries, after only winning two of eight series against the Hooks in 2015.
FIRST FRAME FUN:
After scoring just one first-inning run in the first 11 games, the Riders have outscored opponents, 18-2, in the last 11 first innings. The Riders have scored first-inning runs in five of six games against the Hooks this year, outscoring them, 12-2.
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 2.62 through the first 22 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, 25-8, in the sixth frame through 22 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 63-29 (.685), good for the second-best winning percentage among all minor-league systems. Class A-Advanced High Desert enters the day at 18-6, while Class-A Hickory is 16-8, and Triple-A Round Rock is 12-10. 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:
Right-hander JOE MUSGROVE makes his first start against the Riders this season tonight. The righty is ranked the no. 8 prospect in the Astros farm system by MLBPipeline and earned Houston's Minor League Pitcher of the Year award last season. Musgrove's 0.52 ERA would be tops in the Texas League, but he is 1/3 of an inning away from the qualifiying mark. REPERTOIRE: Fastball (low-mid 90s, T97), slider, curveball, changeup.
Texas League Stories from May 2, 2016
- Riders Fall in Series Finale vs. Hooks - Frisco RoughRiders
- 8 Game Series against Drillers and Naturals May 3 - 10 - Arkansas Travelers
- Nielsen Shuts Down Travs in Chilly Finale - Arkansas Travelers
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. Corpus Christi Hooks - May 2, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Homestand Highlights: May 3 - May 6 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Swing Past Travs, 7-1, Before 7,320 Fans - Springfield Cardinals
- Ryan Cordell Named Texas League Player of the Month - Frisco RoughRiders
- Ninth Inning Comeback Drops Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Explode for Seven-Run Ninth to Capture Fourth Straight Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Corey Baker Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Springfield Cardinals
- Riders Complete Sweep of Missions - San Antonio Missions
- Missions End Losing Streak with 5-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Missions Lose 1st Game in Midland - San Antonio Missions
- Losing Streak Extends to Six Game - San Antonio Missions
- Missions Drop 3rd Straight - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Split DH as Johnson Remains on Fire - Arkansas Travelers
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