The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, pull off a walk-off win against the Tulsa Drillers, winning 9-8 in 12 innings. Eric Aguilera launched a massive home run in the 12th to give the RoughRiders the game, and the series, Saturday night. The matchup was a back-and-forth offensive display from both the RoughRiders and the Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate.
Aguilera led off in the bottom of the 12th. It was his first at-bat of the game, after entering as a defensive replacement in the top of the inning. His game-winning home run landed right in the Choctaw Lazy River and gave the Frisco RoughRiders their first walk-off win of the season. It was a massive no-doubter, and it was hit well.
WALK-OFF WINNERS! Eric Aguilera crushes this blast in the 12th to send everyone home happy. Riders win 9-8. #LetsRide pic.twitter.com/6NN7VaMaO9
— Frisco RoughRiders (@RidersBaseball) July 2, 2017
Earlier in the matchup, the fourth inning saw six runs for the RoughRiders. Royce Bolinger and Michael O’Neill both launched two-run homers, highlighting the frame. Andy Ibanez hit a solo long ball in the eighth inning, giving Frisco an 8-5 lead. The lead didn’t last for long, as the ninth inning was controlled by the Drillers.
Tulsa’s Jacob Scavuzzo hit a two-run bomb and Blake Gailen got a solo home run, all off RoughRiders reliever Reed Garrett. Garrett would end the game after 2.0 innings pitched, allowing three hits and three runs (all earned).
Frisco’s starting pitcher, Ariel Jurado, tossed a quality outing. He left the game with a final line of 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R (all earned), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR. Connor Sadzeck immediately followed Jurado, getting another performance in his new role as a relief pitcher. He couldn’t make it one full inning, allowing four hits and three runs (all earned) through just 2/3 of an inning.
News and notes from RidersBaseball.com:
- The Riders tied season-highs in both home runs (4) and runs in an inning (6).
- Ariel Jurado hurled his team-leading eighth-best quality start and first since May 31 against Northwest Arkansas.
- Scott Heineman extended his on-base streak to 17 games with a walk and a single, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa extended his hitting streak to five games with a double in the third inning.
- In his Double-A debut, Riders reliever Ricardo Rodriguez worked 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
- Royce Bolinger earned the victory after working a scoreless 12th inning, becoming the third Riders position player in team history to secure a win.
The Frisco RoughRiders will take on the Springfield Cardinals, the affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, in a three-game set starting Sunday night. First pitch is set for 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.
Follow Blake Cole on Twitter (@blakeacole) for more on the Frisco RoughRiders, and other MiLB Texas League Double-A teams and players.
*Featured image courtesy of the Frisco RoughRiders.