The Frisco RoughRiders have earned their first win of the season. The Double-A affiliate to the Texas Rangers pushed past Springfield, in a 10-2 victory. Rangers top prospect Yohander Mendez started the game tonight. Mendez earned the win, pitching five innings with only two earned runs. He gave up seven total hits, had four Ks, and walked one. Mendez was also able to get a pickoff, on Cardinals second baseman Dickie Jon Thon.
Righties James Dykstra and Nick Gardewine came in relief for Mendez. Dykstra pitched a perfect three innings, striking out six. Gardewine closed out the game, pitching one inning with two walks and a strikeout. Despite the team’s 1-2 record, the bullpen has been phenomenal. In a combined 17 2/3 innings, the ‘pen has not given up an earned run.
All nine RoughRiders batters were able to get at least one hit. Second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa slammed his first career home run, in the fourth. It was also the first homer for the RoughRiders this season. Kiner-Falefa also had an RBI double. Third baseman Juremi Profar got a homerun of his own, sending one deep in the seventh. Centerfielder Jose Cardona went 3-4, with two RBIs. Hits by Jose Trevino, Scott Heineman, and Eric Aguilera extend their streaks to three games.
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Overall, the game was a nice change of pace for the RoughRiders. There were 7,747 fans at Dr. Pepper Park last night, and they all experienced a wonderful display of baseball.
Mendez did look well-composed on the mound. He tossed more than his fair share of flyouts and popups. Aside from the one walk and hitting a batter, he was under control. It seemed that the move to not let him continue in the sixth was more for Mendez’s own benefit. With the bullpen performing like they have been, RoughRiders manager Joe Mikulik was confident in going to a relief pitcher. In the long run of the season, Mendez will start to make it to that sixth inning and hopefully, beyond that.
The RoughRiders will look to make it two-straight wins tonight. They take on the Tulsa Drillers, Double-A affiliate to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reed Garrett lands the start for the RoughRiders. Colt Hynes will take the mound for Tulsa. The action takes place at Dr. Pepper Park in Frisco. First pitch is at 4:05pm Central.
You can see the action on MiLB.tv. For audio only, you can use the TuneIn Radio App or MiLB First Pitch App.
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