The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, lost the series opener against the Midland RockHounds Monday night, 4-2. Rangers pitcher Tyson Ross took the hill to start the game, playing on a Major League Baseball rehab assignment. He pitched well, but it wasn’t enough to keep Midland from winning the first matchup of the three-game set.
Ross, who is rehabbing from a blister, tossed 4.2 innings and allowed seven hits. He gave up four runs (two earned) while walking two and striking out two. He tossed 80 pitches, 50 were for strikes. Ross appeared to be throwing well and showed no signs of holding back due to his injury. He had a solid outing but fell victim to poor run support and a couple of defensive gaffes from his RoughRiders teammates.
Joe Filomeno came in to relieve Ross and had a solid performance. He threw 2.1 innings of no hit and no run baseball. He struck out one along the way. Shane McCain was the final pitcher for the RoughRiders. He tossed two innings, striking out one. He allowed no hits and no runs in his outing.
The fourth inning was frustrating for the RoughRiders. The club entered the inning down 1-0, and defensive mistakes increased their deficit to 3-0. Both Juremi Profar and Isiah Kiner-Falefa were charged with errors in the matchup.
Scott Heineman went 2-3, with a run and a walk. Royce Bolinger finished 2-4, with one RBI. Juremi Profar rounded out the offensive highlights for the RoughRiders, going 2-4 with one RBI.
News and notes from RidersBaseball.com:
- Scott Heineman, playing for the first time since last Monday, recorded his 22nd multi-hit display with a pair of singles. The two hits ended a 0-28 skid for the Riders outfielder.
- Riders relievers Joe Filomeno and Shane McCain combined to retire all 13 batters they faced.
- Michael O’Neill snapped his season-best nine-game hitting streak, going 0-3 with a hit by pitch.
The Frisco RoughRiders will play game two of the three-game set Tuesday night, at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas.
You can watch the action via MiLB.tv, or listen to the broadcast at RidersBaseball.com.
Follow Blake Cole on Twitter (@blakeacole) for more on Tyson Ross, the Frisco RoughRiders, and other MiLB Texas League Double-A teams and players.
*Featured image courtesy of the Frisco RoughRiders.