The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate to the Texas Rangers, defeat the Arkansas Naturals 2-0. This victory earned the RoughRiders a sweep on the double-header. Collin Wiles threw a complete game shutout (seven innings as per MiLB rules), just as Yohander Mendez did in the first game against the Seattle Mariners affiliate.
Collin Wiles allowed just one hit and one walk in his outstanding performance. The 22-year-old right-hander got the job done in just 81 pitches, 57 for strikes. The first inning was the most troublesome for Wiles. He gave up a double, and walked one. A ground out, fly out, and a strikeout ended the inning. He fell into a solid groove afterwards, allowing just one more hit for the rest of the game.
The RoughRiders got just six hits in the matchup, compared to nine from the first game of the day. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had a RBI double that gave the Riders a 1-0 lead, in the bottom of the first inning. Royce Bolinger blasted a solo shot to right-center field in the fifth, giving the Riders a 2-0 lead. The home run was the third for Bolinger on the day.
The RoughRiders had a team batting average of .252 in both games. That’s about the same line they have been hitting all year. The club entered the double-header day at sixth in the Texas League in batting average, hitting .251. Prior to the two matchups, the RoughRiders were dead last in the entire Texas League. The Travelers were just above them. After two wins, Frisco gets off the bottom of the standings. Tomorrow’s game, the final of the three-game series, will determine if they can stay ahead of Arkansas.
The RoughRiders will start Connor Sadzeck (3-3, 4.81 ERA) Sunday night. The Arkansas Travelers will send Tyler Herb (3-2, 4.17 ERA) to the hill. First pitch is at 7:05 PM CT, from Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas.
You can watch the game via MiLB.tv, or listen to the broadcast at RidersBaseball.com.