The Frisco RoughRiders fall to the Springfield Cardinals, 9-3. This season opener, and home opener, matchup was especially disappointing for RoughRiders starting pitcher, Connor Sadzeck.
Sadzeck didn’t make it through the first, before manager Joe Mikulik pulled the righty. Sadzeck was 30 pitches in, and hadn’t seen an out yet. He gave up four runs on one hit, and walked four. He left the bases loaded for David Ledbetter, who came in to relieve the struggling Sadzeck.
[Blake]
Hopes were high for the RoughRiders season debut. Sadzeck landed his first-career Opening Day start. Last season, Sadzeck was the clear leader of the RoughRiders pitching staff. He finished that season with a 4.16 ERA, over 25 appearances and 140.2 innings pitched. The RoughRiders coaching staff and fans were counting on that same success to start the season off. Instead, Sadzeck earns his first loss of the season.
Juremi Profar, younger brother of the Rangers’ Jurickson Profar, had a stellar hitting night. He ended the game batting .500, with two hits and one run, over his four at-bats. He appeared to look extremely comfortable at the hot corner. In previous interviews, he has stated that third is his favorite position. In the season debut, he looked the part.
Jose Trevino managed one hit in his three at-bats. The .333 average for the game is solid, and he looks to be exactly what the RoughRiders organization thought he would be. He will continue to work the bats, as well as control the pitching tempo. He did make a mound visit to speak to Sadzeck, though it appeared to be all for naught. Tevino has the ability to control the pitcher’s emotions. The RoughRiders coaching staff will be looking forward to seeing that in action.
Scott Heineman, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Eric Aguilera and Luke Tendler round out the RoughRiders who landed a hit this matchup. Each of those guys managed one hit in four at-bats.
For the Springfield Cardinals, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty had 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Left-fielder Nick Martini had two hits in three at-bats, scoring once. The club came out swinging, scoring four runs in the first inning, which included an impressive single that scored two runs, from shortstop Alex Mejia.
Frisco will have another matchup with the Springfield Cardinals tomorrow (Friday, April 6). The first pitch from Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco will be at 7:05pm Central. Be sure to check back here for more Frisco RoughRiders coverage, throughout the entire season.
Checkout more articles from The Inscriber Magazine’s RoughRiders coverage:
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