Twice Is Nice: RoughRiders Shutout Travs, Again
April 17, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
FRISCO, TEXAS (April 16, 2015) - For the second consecutive night, the Frisco RoughRiders (4-4) received another impressive effort from its starting pitcher. Jake Thompson (1-1) shutdown the Arkansas Travelers (6-2) bats, allowing just two hits in six innings en route to his first win. Riders pitching held the Travs to just three hits all game. Between Thompson and Thursday's starter Andrew Faulkner, Riders starters have allowed four hits and no runs over 11.2 innings in the first two games in Arkansas.
Coming into Friday night, the Travelers led the Texas League hitting .298 as a team, but have zero runs to show for in the first two games of the series. In fact, a night after the Travs failed to have a runner reach third base until the seventh inning, they never did so at all on Friday.
Once again the second inning proved costly for the Travelers. Riders outfielder Nick Williams hit his first homerun of the season with two outs, giving Frisco a 1-0 lead. Williams has six hits in his last eight at bats while riding a five game hitting streak.
Riders catcher Jorge Alfaro knocked his fifth double of the season to begin the fourth inning and would later score on a Luis Mendez single to give the Riders a 2-0 lead.
Two runs would suffice on a night in which Riders pitching was outstanding. Cody Buckel worked a scoreless seventh and Will Lamb recorded four straight outs before Josh McElwee finished off the final two outs in the ninth for his first save. The three combined for eight consecutive outs to seal the win.
Arkansas failed to capitalize, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They are now 0-for-10 in this series after going 12-for-42 (.286) a week ago (April 9-11) during three games at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
In two games at Dickey-Stephens Park, Frisco pitching has worked around nine leadoff baserunners in 18 innings. As for the Riders offense, both runs on Friday night came with two outs.
Arkansas starting pitcher Tyler DeLoach took the loss despite striking out eight over six innings. In two starts against the Riders, the left-handed DeLoach has allowed two earned runs in 12 innings of work.
The win puts the Riders' record at .500 for the first time this season, with a chance to sweep the Travelers on Saturday. Jerad Eickhoff (1-0, 3.60) opposes Alan Busenitz (1-0, 1.80) with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. Tune into the Riders Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m.
The Riders return to Dr Pepper Ballpark on April 23 against the Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A, Houston Astros) for the second "Thirsty Thursday" of the season. From 6-8 p.m. fans can enjoy $1 domestic draft beers, $2 import beers, and $1 Dr Pepper products. For tickets to see the Riders in 2015, call 972-731-9200, e-mail info@RidersBaseball.com or visit www.RidersBaseball.com.
Texas League Stories from April 17, 2015
- Naturals Score 5 Early En Route to 6-2 Victory - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Secure Series Win with 14-3 Route - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks Crumple Cards in Rain-Shortened Game - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals' Rally Stopped by Storms, Hooks Win Rain-Shortened Game, 8-5 - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Roll Past Missions on a Rainy Night - San Antonio Missions
- Twice Is Nice: RoughRiders Shutout Travs, Again - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions Held in Check in Home Opener - San Antonio Missions
- A Little Less Baggage - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Take Opener in Corpus Christi - Springfield Cardinals
- Nash Mash, Triples Highlight Opener - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Win First Road Game of Year 4-1 - Tulsa Drillers
- RoughRiders Hand Travelers First Loss of Season - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions held in check in Home Opener - San Antonio Missions
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