Travelers Sneak Away, Take Series Finale
The 'Riders started with the lead, jumping on Travs starter Johnny Hellweg (0-1) in the bottom of the first. Frisco DH Engel Beltre opened up the scoring with a double down the first base line, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jurickson Profar.
Beltre would remain at third on an infield hit by Ryan Strausborger, before coming home on a balk by Hellweg. Strausborger also advanced to second, as the Travs starter failed to step toward third base on a pickoff throw. With a man in scoring position, Chris McGuiness grounded out, but Alex Buchholz reached on an infield single scoring Strausborger.
Arkansas answered back in the top of the second. Facing the bottom of the order, Miguel De Los Santos (0-2) surrendered base hits to Renny Osuna and Casey Haerther, before walking Travs catcher Carlos Ramirez to load the bases. All would come home two batters later, on a triple by Matt Long making it 3-2 Travs.
Frisco answered in the bottom of the sixth, after 'Riders reliever Fabio Castillo worked out of a bases loaded jam in the top half of the inning. Following a strikeout by Engel Beltre, Jurickson Profar earned a walk, and then stole second.
Two batters later, Hellweg left a fastball over the plate to Chris McGuiness, which the 'Riders first baseman deposited over the wall in right. It was McGuiness' second home run in as many games, giving the home team the lead back 4-3.
However, Arkansas would have the last word. An RBI single by Jean Segura tied the game in the seventh, scoring Matt Long from second base, before the Travelers retook the lead in the ninth. After a Darwin Perez single opened the inning, 'Riders shortstop Leury Garcia mishandled a ground ball resulting in Perez coming home.
In the bottom of the ninth the RoughRiders had a chance to tie things up with Jared Prince at third, but he would remain stranded, as a Guilder Rodriguez flyout ended the game.
Frisco took 4 of 6 in their opening homestand. The team has an off-day Wednesday, and will travel to Corpus Christi. The Hooks and the 'Riders open a four game series Thursday night at 7:05, Barret Loux (2-0, 1.69) pitches for the 'Riders. The broadcast can be heard on KKGM 1630 AM, or on ridersbaseball.com. Pregame coverage starts at 6:30.