Riders score five late runs to steal series finale from Hooks
FRISCO, TEXAS (September 2, 2016) - The Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, stormed back with five late runs to defeat the Corpus Christi Hooks 7-6 in the series finale Friday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Trailing 5-2 entering the sixth, the Riders (62-73 overall, 24-42 second half) scored twice in the inning and put up two more in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. Alexeis Bell gave the Riders the lead with a two-out, two-run single to right-center field to put Frisco ahead for the first time all night.
Frisco capitalized on a trio of Hooks errors between the sixth and seventh innings to plate a total of four runs, one earned, against starter Rogelio Armenteros and reliever Michael Freeman (3-4). The Hooks committed four errors Friday, tying a season-high.
After Darin Mastroianni's eighth-inning RBI double gave the Riders an insurance run and a 7-5 lead, Luke Jackson allowed an RBI single in the ninth to make it 7-6. Jackson bounced back and recorded the final two outs to lock down the win and earn his first save with the Riders.
Corpus Christi (82-55, 35-32) scored four runs in the third to take a 4-0 lead, including a two-run home run from Nick Tanielu. The Hooks added a run in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead but did not score the rest of the way, as the Riders won consecutive games for the first time since August 16 and 17.
The Riders welcome the Midland RockHounds to town Saturday at 7:05 p.m. to begin a three-day, four-game series at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Reed Garrett (3-7, 5.14 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for the Riders opposite Midland's Ben Bracewell (7-3, 2.08 ERA). Fans can watch on MiLB.tv (subscription required) or listen to the action live on the Frisco RoughRiders Radio Network, the TuneIn Radio App, and the MiLB First Pitch App. Live coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Dr Pepper Pregame Show.
Saturday is College Night, presented by Dr Pepper, at Dr Pepper Ballpark, which includes a free Riders football for the first 1,000 fans through the gates, compliments of Dr Pepper. On Saturday, gates will open to all fans at 5:00 p.m., and various college football games will be shown in the Bull Moose Saloon. The evening also includes post-game fireworks presented by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Frisco, and the final Saturday Post-Game Party featuring half-price drinks and a performance from Sydney Anderson.
The final homestand of the season runs through Monday, September 5. Tickets for each of the remaining four games on the homestand are available 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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