The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, topped the Corpus Christi Hooks Friday night, in a 3-2 come-from-behind win. Michael O’Neill drove in the game-tying run, while Michael DeLeon sent the go-ahead run across the plate. The RoughRiders improved to a second-half record of 3-1, and sit first in the Texas League South standings.
Michael De Leon eliminated a 2-1 deficit with a game-tying RBI double in the sixth inning. Michael O’Neill immediately followed with a sacrifice fly on the next pitch. It put Frisco ahead for good by a score of 3-2. De Leon went 2-4 Friday night, with a double, RBI, and a run. O’Neill hit 1-3, with a sac fly, RBI, and a walk. Scott Heineman was the final highlight of the Frisco RoughRiders offense, going 2-4 with a double, RBI, walk, and a stolen base.
The RoughRiders left 11 men on base, hitting 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Hitting with RISP and leaving runners on base was an issue for the club in the first half of the season. Success in these two areas can ensure the club has a more successful second half than they did in the first.
Pedro Payano started on the hill for the RoughRiders. He tossed 4.2 innings, giving up four hits and two runs (earned). Payano walked five and struck out two. He finished his time tossing after 102 pitches, 55 for strikes. Payano is a top prospect for the Texas Rangers, ranked No. 27. He hasn’t been at the Double-A level long but will need to be able to focus on stamina and control if he expects to do well.
News and notes from RidersBaseball.com:
- The Riders have won four of their past five games, and five of their past eight. Frisco is 3-1 to begin the second half and has sole possession of first place in the South Division’s second-half standings.
- Frisco and Corpus Christi combined to go 4-25 with runners in scoring position, stranding 23 runners. Corpus Christi left the bases loaded three times, including in the ninth.
- Scott Heineman has reached safely in 20 of his last 32 plate appearances, extending his on-base streak to 11 games.
- Andy Ibanez snapped a 2-22 drought, going 2-4 Friday for his eighth multi-hit game of the season.
The Frisco RoughRiders take on the Hooks Saturday night, at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, Texas. The first pitch is set for 7:05 PM CT. You can watch the game via MiLB.tv, or listen to the broadcast at RidersBaseball.com.
Collin Wiles (6-3, 3.55 ERA) takes the mound for the RoughRiders. He will take on Brock Dykxhoorn (1-4, 5.47 ERA) in the matchup.
You can read more about Collin Wiles by clicking here.
Follow Blake Cole, Senior Writer for The Inscriber, on Twitter (@blakeacole) for news and updates on the Frisco RoughRiders, Texas Rangers, and more.
*Featured image courtesy of RidersBaseball.com.