Pair of homers not enough in one-run loss to Hooks
FRISCO, TEXAS (June 23, 2016) - The Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, hit a pair of solo home runs but came up short in a 3-2 loss to the Corpus Christi Hooks Thursday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
The RoughRiders (39-33, 1-2 second half) hit a pair of home runs against Hooks starter Kyle Smith (2-5). Frisco got on the board in the first inning on the 15th long ball of the year from Ryan Cordell. Trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Joe Jackson launched a solo home run to tie the game 2-2.
Chase McDonald broke the 2-2 tie and brought home the decisive run with a solo home run in the sixth against reliever Ryan Ledbetter (0-1), who made his Double-A debut Thursday. It was McDonald's 12th home run and fifth in 15 games against the RoughRiders.
Corpus Christi (49-24, 2-1) scored a pair of runs early against Riders starter Luis Ortiz in the first inning. Derek Fisher and Nick Tanielu each had RBI singles to help the Hooks build a 2-0 advantage. However, Ortiz turned it around after the shaky start, retiring 10 consecutive hitters and 13 of the final 17 he faced without allowing any further scoring. Ortiz went five innings for the RoughRiders, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts. He took no decision for the second straight outing.
Reliever Cy Sneed worked four scoreless innings to earn the save and finish off the win for the Hooks, recording a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts. The Hooks have won four straight and 11 of the last 12 against the RoughRiders after Frisco won four of the first five meetings in the season series.
The four-game series against Corpus Christi continues Friday at 7:05 p.m. A pair of All-Stars are scheduled to duel on the hill with Frisco's Connor Sadzeck (6-2, 3.18 ERA) countered by Keegan Yuhl (7-1, 2.10 ERA). Fans can watch the game on MiLB.tv (subscription required) or listen to the action on the Frisco RoughRiders Radio Network, the TuneIn Radio App, and the MiLB First Pitch App. Dr Pepper Pregame Show coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.
Friday is Salute to Top Gun Night at Dr Pepper Ballpark, honoring the film's 30th anniversary. The homestand runs through Sunday and includes a Joey Gallo "BIG STICK" bobblehead giveaway on Saturday. Tickets for the remaining games on the homestand and other remaining games this season are available now online at RidersBaseball.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (972) 731-9200, or in-person at the RoughRiders box office.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 11 seasons (2005-2015). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju. The new ownership group, together with the city of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements over the past two seasons, investing over $7 million in wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including the new state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store, and the newest and biggest creation, the 174-foot Choctaw Lazy River. The improvements made prior to the 2015 season earned the Riders and the City of Frisco "Best Ballpark Renovation" of 2015 by Ballpark Digest. More than 130 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, and C.J. Wilson as well as current Rangers stars Derek Holland, Rougned Odor, and Mitch Moreland. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Nathan Barnett at (972) 334-1976 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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