Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. San Antonio Missions - April 28, 2016
April 28, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
Riders: LHP Victor Payano (1-0, 3.45 ERA)
Missions: RHP Fabio Castillo (2-2, 3.68 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 Ryan Rouillard begins at 6:30 p.m. prior to the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. with game coverage from Ryan Rouillard and Steve Goldberg.
The game is also televised on Fox Sports Southwest and MiLB.tv at 7:00 p.m. with Nathan Barnett and former Major League pitcher Mike Bacsik.
LAST TIME OUT:
San Antonio widdled down a 4-0 RoughRiders lead, but Frisco held on for a 6-5 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Dr Pepper Ballpark to improve to 14-4...ISIAH KINER-FALEFA and MLB rehabber CHRIS GIMENEZ both drove in runs in the third, RONALD GUZMAN knocked in two with a single in the fifth, and ALEX BURG homered in the sixth...SAM WOLFF gave the Riders five shut out frames before running into trouble in the sixth, when the Missions plated three...San Antonio added two more against MATT BUSH with a home run in the eighth inning...Bush struck out six in two innings and held on for his third save.
RIDING HIGH:
The RoughRiders won nine of their first 10 games this season, marking the best 10-game start in team history. At 14-4, the RoughRiders are still on pace 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 batting average (.368), slugging (.735), home runs (5), doubles (8), extra-base hits (14), RBI (21), and runs (17). In addition, Cordell has more extra-base hits (14) than singles (11).
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 an 13-game hit streak into today's game and has been on base in all 18 contests this year, both of which are the Texas League's longest streaks. Dating back to the final three games of last season, he has reached base in 21 straight contests.
YU READY FOR SUNDAY?:
Yesterday, 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.
LIGHTS..CAMERA...ACTION!:
Tonight's contest is one of at least eight RoughRiders games that will be televised live on Fox Sports Southwest. RoughRiders broadcaster Nathan Barnett will be joined by Mike Bascik, a former Major League pitcher and Texas Ranger. Paul Kruger, Assistant Director of Player Development for the Rangers, will join the broadcast from the fourth through the sixth innings.
STARTING SERIES STRONG:
With their win Monday night, the RoughRiders are a perfect 6-0 in series-opening games this season. After clinching another series victory with yesterday's win, Frisco has now won five of its first six series, including two sweeps of Northwest Arkansas.
SCORING SOONER:
Early on, the Riders 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 10 games, 41 of their 57 runs have come within the first five innings.
FIRST FRAME FUN:
After scoring just one first-inning run in the first 11 games, the Riders have scored 14 in the last seven games, including five on Friday. They have outscored opponents by a total of 14-1 in the first inning during that stretch.
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 14 games, the 'pen has allowed just 11 earned runs in the last 57 1/3 innings (1.73 ERA). Over that stretch, relievers have allowed just 31 hits and 26 walks (0.99 WHIP), while striking out 55.
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 five four-run innings, three five-run frames and a six-spot. Meanwhile, the Riders have only allowed three innings of more than two runs.
DOUBLE THE BROOMS:
On April 16, 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 55-22 (.714), good for the best winning percentage among all minor-league systems. Class A-Advanced High Desert enters today at 16-4, Class-A Hickory is 13-7, and Triple-A Round Rock is 11-7. 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, his fifth start of the year...The right-handed hurler is off to a good start, allowing three or fewer runs in all four of his starts thus far...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 April 28, 2016
- Calixte Delivers in 10th to Split Series with Springfield - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. vs. San Antonio Missions - April 28, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Turnaround X 2 - Midland RockHounds
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