Riders Win 15-Inning Thriller After Darvish's Dandy
May 17, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
Pitcher Yu Darvish with the Frisco RoughRiders
(Frisco RoughRiders)
MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, came away with a wild 11-8 victory in 15 innings Tuesday afternoon over the Midland RockHounds at Security Bank Ballpark.
In a back-and-forth contest, the Riders (25-12) broke a 7-7 tie with four runs in the 15th inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ryan Cordell popped up into shallow right field, but second baseman Franklin Barreto dropped it, allowing two runs to score. The next batter, Ronald Guzman, added a pair of insurance runs with a triple to center field.
Outfielder Preston Beck (1-0) was summoned to pitch the final two innings and picked up the win for the RoughRiders. It was Beck's second career appearance on the mound, after he threw 1/3 of an inning against the RockHounds (20-17) in the final game last season.
The early story was the latest rehab start for right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish, his fourth overall and second with the Riders. Darvish worked five innings and allowed just three hits and an unearned run, while walking one and striking out six. The only run the right-hander surrendered came on a passed ball in the bottom of the first. Of his 68 pitches, 47 were strikes.
With Darvish gone and the Riders ahead, 6-1, the rollercoaster ride was set into motion. The RockHounds scored four times in the sixth against Frisco's bullpen to pull within a run. The Riders maintained the 6-5 lead until the bottom of the ninth, when Midland's Matt Chapman hit a two-out, game-tying double to force extra innings.
The RockHounds put together a pair of threats early in the extra session, most notably a bases-loaded, one out situation in the 11th. However, reliever Emerson Martinez induced an inning-ending double play to keep the game alive.
In the 13th, the Riders appeared to have dealt the deciding blow, when Lewis Brinson hit a go-ahead solo home run to put Frisco ahead, 7-6. However, down to their final out in the bottom of the frame, the RockHounds were not done. Wade Kirkland, who entered as a pinch-runner in the 11th, hit a game-tying solo home run to push the game further on.
Tuesday's win marked the second straight for the RoughRiders, who snapped a five-game losing streak Monday. They will go for a third straight victory and a series win Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the third game of the four-game set. Right-hander Connor Sadzeck will head to the mound for Frisco, working against Midland righty Corey Walter (0-1, 2.70 ERA). Live coverage can be heard on the Frisco RoughRiders Radio Network, on the TuneIn Radio App, and the MiLB First Pitch App. Dr Pepper Pregame Show coverage begins at 5:55 p.m.
The RoughRiders next return home on Friday, May 20 to begin a four-game series against the San Antonio Missions. The homestand begins with Magic Night on the 20th, featuring Michael Grandinetti, and Saturday is Military Appreciation Night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Tickets for those games, and the other two games of the homestand are available now online at RidersBaseball.com, via email at info@ridersbaseball.com, over the phone at (972) 731-9200, or in-person at the RoughRiders box office.
Images from this story
 Pitcher Yu Darvish with the Frisco RoughRiders |
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