TL1 Arkansas Travelers

RoughRiders Achieve Split with Comeback Win

Published on July 4, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


LITTLE ROCK - The Frisco RoughRiders finished their second three-game sweep of the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park on Friday night with a come-from-behind 9-5 victory in front of 8,772. Odubel Herrera and Drew Robinson each drove in three runs to aid Frisco after they trailed 5-1. The Travs scored all five of their runs on five hits in one inning, but mustered just one hit the rest of the game.

Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, the Travs collected five runs all with two outs in their biggest rally in three weeks. A fielding error off by Robinson, who started at third base, opened the gates allowing Eric Stamets to reach base. Adam Melker followed with a bloop single off Alex Claudio, and Alex Yarbrough lined a run-scoring single with two outs to tie the game. Brian Hernandez hit a grounder that Robinson dove on top of allowing Melker to score on an infield single. Then Claudio balked with Mike Bianucci batting setting him up for a two-run single to left field. Anderson De La Rosa capped the rally with a double into the left field corner giving Drew Rucinski a 5-1 lead.

With a 1.00 ERA in his last five starts, Rucinski held Frisco off the board in the fourth and fifth innings, but surrendered a single by Joey Gallo and a double by Tomas Telis putting two in scoring position with no outs in the sixth. With the infield back, Rucinski got a grounder from Teo Martinez to shortstop. However Bianucci came off first base to take a throw from Stamets allowing a run to score on an error. A one-out sacrifice fly by Robinson plated Telis from third to cut the lead to 5-3. De La Rosa nailed Martinez stealing second base for the third out.

Rucinski handed the game to the normally dependable Travs bullpen after throwing 99 pitches through six innings. He was charged with three runs, two earned, on seven hits and a walk while striking out five.

Danny Reynolds opened the top of the seventh inning with a walk to Guilder Rodriguez, which Patrick Cantwell followed with a grounder up the left-field line for a double. Herrera lined a single off Reynolds's glove into centerfield bringing home two runs. After getting Trever Adams to fly out, Reynolds intentionally walked Gallo to set up a force play at second or third. R.J. Alvarez was summoned from the pen, but he walked Telis and Martinez to force home Herrera with the go-ahead run. Robinson's two-out single off Carmine Giardina put Frisco ahead 8-5.

Reynolds (1-2) was charged with the loss allowing four runs in one-third of an inning.

Telis tacked on another run in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly.

Frisco's bullpen combined to blank the Travs over the last five innings using four pitchers after Claudio allowed five unearned runs on five hits. Ryan Rodebaugh and Wilmer Font tossed one inning each, with Font (2-1) earning the win. Jimmy Reyes struck out five in two innings then handed it to Keone Kela for the ninth.

The RoughRiders won the season-series with the Travs with eight wins in 12 matchups. Arkansas did well at Dr Pepper Ballpark winning four-of-six, but couldn't muster a win at home.

Time of game was 3:26.

Next up in the last three games of this home stand are the Midland RockHounds. On Saturday Michael Roth (7-4, 2.40) takes the hill for Arkansas against Nate Long (7-4, 3.50). First pitch on Saturday is set for 7:10 p.m.

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Texas League Stories from July 4, 2014


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