Travs Shutout Against By 'Riders

 

FRISCO, TEXAS - Alex Buchholz hit one of three Frisco home runs on Saturday night as the RoughRiders blanked the Arkansas Travelers 6-0 before 9,240 fans.  Buchholz lined a solo homer (1) to break a tie game in the fifth inning and later delivered an RBI double in the seventh.  The Travs managed just five base hits in their second shutout loss in a row and have gone the last 21 innings without scoring a run.  Lay Batista (0-2) took the loss although he allowed just two runs on two hits in six innings.

 

The RoughRiders took the final two games of the three-game series and evened the season series with the Travs at 3-3.  The Travelers' loss knocks them back to 4-5, while the 'Riders improve to 5-4.

 

Kevin Pucetas (2-0) was efficient and aggressive in his second start in the Texas League throwing just 83 pitches to fire 7.1 innings.  The Travs collected five singles against Pucetas, who walked one batter and struck out one.

 

Early on it was evident there was a pitcher's duel on the field as Batista held the 'Riders without a base hit until the fifth while Pucetas retired the first ten Travs batters.  However Buchholz wrapped Batista's second pitch of the fifth inning inside the left field fair pole for a 1-0 'Riders lead.

 

The door opened a little for the Travs in the sixth inning when Buchholz misplayed a hard grounder hit by Rolando Gomez.  Jared Hoying made a sliding catch in foul territory on a fly ball hit by Travis Witherspoon.  With Gomez running on the play and still near second base when the catch was made, Hoying popped up and threw to the bag which was left open.  Pucetas rushed over to cover the bag and ran over Gomez before catching the throw on a hop.  Gomez was called out resulting in a double play which brought Travs manager Tim Bogar over for an argument with third base umpire Ramon Hernandez to no avail.  Matt Long then bunted his way on base and stole second but was stranded there was Kaleb Cowart bounced out.

 

Batista came back for the sixth inning and surrendered a solo homer to Jared Hoying (2) to center field. 

 

Ryan Chaffee relieved Batista for the seventh inning and quickly found trouble when Taylor Lindsey misplayed a grounder hit by Tomas Telis.  After a wild pitch gave Telis two bases, he scored when  Buchholz followed with a double to center.  Alejandro Selen increased Frisco's lead to 4-0 with an RBI single.  Strausborger then connected on a bomb to left field for a 6-0 lead.

 

Before the game the Los Angeles Angels announced that left handed pitcher Michael Roth had his contract purchased and was recalled to the Angels where he took a spot in the bullpen.  Roth, who made one start for the Travs, was not replaced on the team roster which now sits at 23 active players.

 

The Travs hit the road after the loss for Midland to battle the RockHounds in a three-game series.  Matt Oye (0-1) takes the hill for the Travs Sunday afternoon against Arnold Leon (1-0).  First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.