The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, dominated the Midland RockHounds Wednesday afternoon, in an 11-2 victory. Cole Hamels helped limit the Oakland Athletics affiliate, while the RoughRiders offense exploded in the series finale.
In his second rehab start for the RoughRiders, Hamels threw 5.2 innings. He allowed just two hits and one run (earned) while walking two and striking out five. The one run he gave up came from Yairo Munoz, who hit a deep solo home run in the first inning. Hamels finished his assignment after throwing 81 pitches, 56 for strikes. With two successful rehab starts under his belt, Hamels could be heading back to the Rangers soon.
Read about Cole Hamels’ first rehab start with the RoughRiders by clicking here.
Cody Palmquist came in to relieve Hamels. He went 2.1 innings, giving up just two hits and no runs. He walked none and struck out two batters. Brady Feigl finished out the pitching duties for the RoughRiders. He tossed one inning, giving up three hits and one run (earned). Feigl walked none and got two punchouts.
The RoughRiders offense shined in Wednesday’s matchup. Jose Cardona hit a three-run blast in the second inning, giving the lead back to Frisco. Scott Heineman smashed a two-run homer in the third inning, making it 5-1. The RoughRiders continued their streak, scoring four more in the fourth inning, to take a 9-1 lead. It was highlighted by Jose Trevino’s two-run double. Cardona hit another home run in the fifth, a solo shot. Michael O’Neill had his own solo shot in the fifth, landing the RoughRiders at an 11-2 score.
Read more about Jose Trevino by clicking here.
News and notes from RidersBaseball.com:
- Through two rehab starts with the Riders, Cole Hamels has fired 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball, surrendering three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
- Jose Cardona recorded the first multi-home run game of his career Wednesday. In 12 games against Midland, Cardona is 21-47 (.447) with four home runs and 11 RBIs.
- The Riders tied a season-high with their four home runs, marking the third four-homer game for the club this season.
- Scott Heineman has reached safely in 14 of his last 21 plate appearances.
- The Riders have won three consecutive games for the first time since sweeping Northwest Arkansas May 23-25.
The Frisco RoughRiders will take on the Corpus Christi Hooks Thursday night, in Corpus Christi. Frisco will start top prospect Ariel Jurado (7-5, 4.23 ERA). He is currently ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Texas Rangers organization.
You can watch the game via MiLB.tv, or listen to the broadcast at RidersBaseball.com.
Follow Blake Cole, Senior Writer at The Inscriber, on Twitter (@blakeacole) for news and updates on the Frisco RoughRiders, Texas Rangers, and more.
*Featured image courtesy of RidersBaseball.com.