A.J. Griffin posts strong rehab start but Riders fall 13-1

MIDLAND, Texas (July 24, 2017)- Rangers rehabber A.J. Griffin twirled five scoreless innings for the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, but the Midland RockHounds took the series opener 13-1 Monday night at Security Bank Ballpark.
BIG MOMENTS

• Texas Rangers rehabber A.J. Griffin fired five scoreless innings in his first start with the Riders. The right-hander struck out five, allowing four hits and two walks. Of his 73 pitches, he threw 48 for strikes.
• The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when the RockHounds plated five runs to take a 5-0 lead.
• J.P. Sportman's grand slam highlighted Midland's eight-run eighth, putting the RockHounds ahead 13-1.
• Grant Holmes earned the victory for the RockHounds, spinning seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball. The Athletics' third-best prospect (MLB Pipeline) struck out five and did not walk a batter.

KEY RIDERS PERFORMERS

• A.J. Griffin: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Andy Ibáñez: 2-3, RBI
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2-4

NEWS AND NOTES

• With two more hits Monday, Andy Ibanez has compiled five multi-hit performances in his past nine games. The Cuban infielder is hitting .353 (12-34) in the span.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa has hits in 14 of his last 15 games, swinging .323 (21-65) in that span.
• Luke Tendler extended his on-base streak to 12 games after being hit by a pitch in the first inning, tying his longest streak of the season.
• With Monday's result, Midland has scored at least 12 runs in each of its past three games, scoring 12, 13, and 13 respectively.

WHAT'S NEXT
Riders at Midland, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
Probables: RHP Pedro Payano (2-2, 4.27 ERA) vs. RHP Heath Fillmyer (5-4, 3.95 ERA)
Video: MiLB.tv
Audio: RidersBaseball.com, TuneIn Radio App, MiLB First Pitch App
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 12 seasons (2005-2016). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. The new ownership group, together with the city of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements over the past two seasons, investing nearly $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a 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 upgrades made prior to the 2015 season earned the Riders and the City of Frisco "Best Ballpark Renovation" of 2015 by Ballpark Digest. The same publication also honored the Choctaw Lazy River as the best ballpark improvement over $1 million for the 2016 season. More than 130 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Adrián González, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz, as well as current Rangers stars Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor and Nomar Mazara. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Art Garcia at [email protected] or Ryan Rouillard at [email protected].