RoughRiders take opener behind stellar arms

FRISCO, Texas (May 4, 2021) On the backs of stellar outings from four pitchers, the Frisco RoughRiders took down the Midland RockHounds 5-2 on Opening Day from Frisco.

Tim Brennan started for the RoughRiders and was lethal, using just 60 pitches in his 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three and walking two. Sal Mendez (1-0) received the win in relief of Brennan, allowing a pair of runs himself, but not surrendering a hit in his 1.2 innings. From there, Scott Engler and Cole Uvila combined to throw the last three scoreless frames, with Uvila earning his first save of the season.

On offense, the Riders started early. With a pair on in the first inning, Sherten Apostel crushed a two-run double off of the wall in right, giving the RoughRiders a 2-0 advantage. The next batter, Diosbel Arias, then plated Apostel on an infield single to the pitcher plus a throwing error tacked on, allowing the Riders first baseman to score.

The score remained 3-0 until the fifth when Bubba Thompson tripled and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

In the seventh inning, the RockHounds struck back, getting a pair of runs on an RBI single from Collin Theroux and a sacrifice fly from Nick Allen to cut the Riders' lead to 4-2.

Frisco extended that two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, though, when Julio Pablo Martinez was hit by a pitch to get aboard. He then proceeded to steal second and third before coming into score on a wild pitch, giving the Riders a 5-2 advantage.

That score held as Uvila worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Zac Reininger (0-1) took the loss for Midland, allowing three runs (two earned) over his 3.2 innings.

The RoughRiders are back in action on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. against the RockHounds for game two of the six-game series. It's Weiner Wednesday at Riders Field, where hot dogs are just $2! Get your tickets now at RidersBaseball.com or call 972.334.1993.

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 15 seasons (2005-2019). 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, InTouch Grille, 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 160 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including current Rangers players Jose Trevino, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Joey Gallo. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected]