Monster eighth sends Frisco to 9-1 win

FRISCO, TEXAS (August 5, 2014) - The RoughRiders cruised to a 9-1 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Tuesday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Alex Gonzalez (5-3) allowed one run over six innings and the game featured the Double-A debuts of Jorge Alfaro and Nomar Mazara.

Frisco (27-18, 67-47) had the game won in the fourth inning when Patrick Cantwell plated the go-ahead run with a line drive to center, and the club added insurance with a seven-run eighth inning to put the game away following a 56-minute rain delay.

Both clubs struggled to mount anything in the first inning as Frisco's starter Gonzalez struck out all three batters he faced swinging and Cardinals' starter Mike Mayers (2-5) retired all three he faced.

The second inning, however, was a different story. Springfield (17-27, 51-63) appeared ready to swing, as they knew Gonzalez was throwing strikes early and they were able to hit a few hard balls off of the righty. Breyvic Valera lined a one-out double down the first-base line and soon scored when Jonathan Rodriguez knocked a single to left.

Patrick Wisdom was called out on strikes for the second out, but Rafael Ortega smacked a single to right. Mazara, making his first Double-A start in right field, bobbled the ball allowing Rodriguez to trot to third.

Gonzalez buckled down with runners on the corners and Alex Mejia grounded out to end the inning and leave the score 1-0 Springfield.

Frisco answered with a one-out run of their own in the second. Joey Gallo singled and advanced to second on an errant throw by center fielder Charlie Tilson, and Teodoro Martinez singled him to third to put men on the corners.

That brought up Mazara, who redeemed himself by sending a sacrifice fly to deep center to score Gallo and tie the contest at 1-1.

The RoughRiders would not stop there and added to the run column in the fourth frame. Hanser Alberto drew a two-out walk and Jake Skole advanced via error to put two men on for Cantwell. The 'Riders catcher popped a line drive to center and Alberto scored to give Frisco a 2-1 advantage.

Alfaro, also making his Double-A debut after a promotion from Myrtle Beach, walked to load the bases, but Odubel Herrera grounded out to end the threat.

The crew chief of the umpiring crew, Nathan White, noticed lighting in the area and forced the game to enter a rain delay. No more than five minutes later the skies opened up and rain showered Dr

Pepper Ballpark.

The rains eventually subsided and the ballgame resumed after a 56-minute rain delay. Samuel Tuivailala entered the ballgame with the bases loaded and got Alfaro to strike out swinging for a huge second out.

Herrera lashed a single to the right side of the field but the ball struck Cantwell, who was ruled out immediately.

The starters did not return after the rain delay and Gonzalez's outing was complete after six strong innings in which he allowed one run on four hits. The righty walked two, struck out six and tossed 50 of his 83 pitches for strikes.

Mayers pitched 5 1/3 innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. He hit one batter and threw 59 of his 96 pitches for strikes.

Will Lamb walked his first batter in the seventh frame, but the southpaw retired the next three he faced to hold the Frisco lead at 2-1. Joseph Ortiz followed suit with a sharp perfect eighth inning.

The 'Riders added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Lee Stoppelman released a wild pitch with the bases loaded to score Alberto from third and put Frisco up 3-1.

Frisco made it 5-1 when Trever Adams sent a two-out double to left, his 32nd of the year, for the teams 13th his of the contest.

The game was really busted open when Martinez cleared the bases with a 3-run RBI double off the glove of a diving Wisdom at third base. Mazara followed suit by crushing a triple off the wall in deep center to score Martinez and add to the monster seven-run frame.

The RoughRiders look to win their fifth straight game on Wednesday night at 7:05 at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Right-hander Alec Asher (8-10, 3.85 ERA) takes the ball for Frisco and faces off against southpaw Jonathan Cornelius (9-8, 3.91 ERA). For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com