Josh Hatcher walk-off homer sends Riders to 4-3 win
FRISCO, Texas (April 27, 2024) – The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Amarillo Sod Poodles in walk-off fashion 4-3 on Saturday night from Riders Field. Box Score Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth and down to the final strike, Josh Hatcher launched an opposite-field walk-off homer to push the
FRISCO, Texas (April 27, 2024) – The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Amarillo Sod Poodles in walk-off fashion 4-3 on Saturday night from Riders Field.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth and down to the final strike, Josh Hatcher launched an opposite-field walk-off homer to push the RoughRiders (12-8) past the Sod Poodles (7-13).
Emiliano Teodo and Dylan File were locked in a pitcher’s duel entering the top of the fifth inning. Amarillo broke the scoreless tie with a pair of RBI singles, pulling ahead 2-0 in the fifth.
Teodo exited after the fifth, finishing with a final line of 5.0 innings pitched while allowing just the two runs with a season-high eight strikeouts.
Amarillo added to their lead with a RBI single in the top of the seventh inning, making it 3-0. The Riders would answer with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame where Aaron Zavala, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored on a wild pitch.
Frisco came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-1. With one out, Zavala and Liam Hicks singled to bring the winning run to the plate. In a 2-2 count with two outs, Hatcher swatted a towering three-run walk-off homer against Amarillo reliever Taylor Rashi (0-2).
The Riders bullpen enjoyed another solid evening, combined to allow just one unearned run across 4.0 innings with four punchouts. Andy Rodriguez (1-0) struck out three across the eighth and ninth innings, surrendering just one hit and one walk.
The Frisco offense managed just six hits, but saw multi-hit performances from Hatcher and Zavala.
Next, the RoughRiders finish a six-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks affiliated Amarillo Sod Poodles at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday, April 28th. RHP Josh Stephan (0-1, 20.25) will take the mound for Frisco against RHP Jamison Hill (0-1, 10.50).
Sunday is packed full of family friendly promotional events as it is Blippi Day, Bark in the Park and Kid’s Sunday Funday presented by Raising Canes. Make sure to arrive early to grab a pair of Blippi-style RoughRiders glasses at the gates and remember that with the purchase of an H-E-B Family Lawn ticket your dog can get in for free.
For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 200 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Leody Taveras. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].