Leclerc dazzles as Riders take series against Cards

FRISCO, TEXAS (May 28, 2015) - The Frisco RoughRiders won the series finale on Thursday night against the Springfield Cardinals 2-1. Jose Leclerc threw a career-high six innings as the Riders took their second straight series behind solid starting pitching. 

The Riders jumped on the board in the second inning after Preston Beck singled home Drew Robinson who doubled earlier in the frame. Leading 1-0, the Cardinals responded in the top of the third as Breyvic Valera led off with a double down the left field line and Charlie Tilson hit a bloop RBI single to tie the game 1-1.

Frisco immediately responded in the bottom of the third when Nick Williams hit a triple to deep center and later scored on Jorge Alfaro's base hit. Alfaro now has RBIs in four straight games and extended his hitting steak to seven. 

That would prove to be all they needed offensively behind Leclerc's solid starting effort. Josh McElwee threw a scoreless seventh inning with the help from centerfielder Jake Skole who made a leaping catch at the wall to rob David Washington of an extra basehit. Will Lamb recorded two outs in the eighth before giving way to David Martinez, who recorded the final four outs and picked up his second save. 

The Riders have won two consecutive series and after starting the season 0-and-12 in series finales, they have won two straight improving to 19-28 overall.

The Riders host the Tulsa Drillers on Friday for the first time in 2015. LHP Frank Lopez (1-0) makes his second start for Frisco after pitching into the seventh inning last week in San Antonio. RHP Jose DeLeon (0-1) will take the mound for the Drillers. Be sure to catch the spectacular fireworks show after the game on Friday presented by Cinemark. For tickets to see the Riders in 2015, Call 972-731-9200, E-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.